Memories Of A Perilous

N.G. Voyage

MEMORIES of an adventurous, ill fated voyage from Melbourne to New Guinea in 1878 in search of gold have been recalled by the death at Metung, Gippsland, of Captain James Bull, aged 90 years.

Captain Bull was one of 17 young men who bought equal shares in the daring expedition. His death has left two sur vivors—Mr. Arthur Peck, of Melbourne, and Mr. Robert Herbertson, of Ofmiston, Queensland.

In the “Dove”, of 47 tons register, the 17 adventurers sailed to New Guinea from Melbourne in three weeks. Finding no trace of gold in the wild streams and hills where they dug and panned, they explored along the coast. Malaria at tacked the whole crew; four died, and were buried at sea.

In desperate straits, the 13 survivors turned the “Dove” for home, but so badly had her wooden planks been bored by sea worms that as quickly as the crew baled the vessel filled again. As the “Dove”

was foundering another vessel arrived ixi time to save the crew. It took them to Japan, whence they returned to Aus tralia.

The auxiliary ketch “Myro”, in which Mr. B. E. Walters, his wife, three asso ciates and a crew of two set out from Tulagi (Solomon Islands) for Sydney early in March, arrived eventually at Townsville. The voyage was very uncom fortable, owing to a heavy beam swell.

Mrs. Walters left the vessel at Towns ville, but the others decided to continue south as weather permitted and reached Sydney on April 9. The “Myro” is a two masted schooner-rigged craft.

Mrs. Clive Brewster, wife of the well known Major Clive B. Brewster, of Suva, Fiji, returned to the Colony by the March “Niagara” from New Zealand, after sev eral months’ holiday in the Dominion.

Dr. James Taylor, a Government Medi cal Officer in Fiji, has been transferred from Levuka to Nadroga.

Mr. A. M. Ryan, Postmaster at Rabaul, New Guinea, arrived in Sydney on March 23 by the “Tanda” on long leave.

Mr. J. W. Grittins, of the Colonial Secretary’s Office, Fiji, is now en route to England on leave. He is accompanied by his wife.