40 Lepers From Northern
p. 59 · Read in the full issue
Cooks
From Our Own Correspondent.
Rarotonga, Oct. 15.
DR. E. P. ELLISON, C.M.0., left by the September “Matua” for Suva, to join a schooner which has been char tered by the Cook Is. Administration to convey lepers from the Northern Cooks to Makogai, at a reported price of £2,000.
It is stated that this nice little nest egg was rejected by the owners of the local schooner, “Taire Taporo”, the rea son given being that carrying lepers would give the ship a bad name. In these hard times, when paying cargoes are difficult to find. Messrs. A. B. Donald’s action is to be commended.
The chartered schooner will pick up at Manihiki 4 lepers, at Rakahanga 3, and at Penryhn 33, and from that port will sail direct to Makogai. The last time that lepers were sent from the Cook Group to Makogai was in 1935, by the N.Z. Government ship “Matai”.