A Friendly Act

French Search for Missing Australians

WHEN the launch Viking, with six men aboard, disappeared in November, between Sydney and Lord Howe Island.

Mr. Nicolas Hagen, merchant, of Noumea, New Caledonia, gave instructions that his small steamer Neo Hebridais should search the reefs in the vicinity of Norfolk Island.

This friendly and generous act on the part of the well-known Frenchman was much appreciated by the authorities in Sydney, and early in December the Chair man of the Lord Howe Island Board of Control sent the following letter to the Sydney agent for Mr. Hagen’s vessel, the Neo Hebridais : “Now that the search for the Viking has been abandoned, the Board of Control wishes to offer to Mr. Nicolas Hagen, to the Master and ship’s company of the Neo Hebridais and to your firm, an expression of its warm appreciation for the efforts put forward in an endeavour to locate the missing boat and its crew of six persons.

“The Board of Control voices the feel ings of the entire Lord Howe Island com munity when it states that the search (especially in the Middleton and Eliza beth Reefs region), although negative in result, gave great satisfaction, as com pared with the position that would have existed had this area been left unexplored.

The Board of Control values more than words can say this praiseworthy en deavour made by a French ship. Particu larly is the courtesy and promptitude dis played by Mr. Hagen and your firm ap preciated.

“That the search was unsuccessful is in no way the responsibility of those who so

cheerfully took part, and in this sense you may rest assured that the Neo Hebri dais’ participation is valued in a heartfelt way by all residents on the little Island and elsewhere.”