An Epidemic Of Cruising Canoes
pp. 59-60 · Read in the full issue
THIS photograph (by Shea, Rabaul) shows the young Czech canoeist, Mr. Cikanek, in Rabaul Harbour, New Guinea, in his 12-feet-long outrigger canoe, in which he paddled and sailed all the way from the Philippines. He is now on his way to the Solomons and New Hebrides.
IT was said recently that there was an epidemic of cruising yachts in the Pacific. There now seems to be a further epidemic—this time, of cruising canoes.
A young Czech arrived in Rabaul, New Guinea, in April, in a 12-foot outrigger canoe, which he had paddled south from the Philippines. Then, a few weeks later, three starving Europeans arrived in Ame rican Samoa, in a 30-foot outrigger ca noe, which they had sailed and paddled southwards from Hawaii.
Now. as the most recent arrival, we have Oscar Speck, who left Germany 7 years ago to see the world, in a 12-foot canoe, and who arrived in Salamaua on June 14, by way of the coast of Dutch New Guinea. His only shelter from the
tropic heat consists of a canvas hood at tached to his canoe, and his means of propulsion are two small oars. He is at present on the coast of Papua, being en route for Sydney, via Samarai and Port Moresby.
Miss Norma Winterbottom sailed from Sydney in the “Malaita” at the end of June for the Solomon Islands, where she will resume her hospital work at Ugi. Miss Winterbottom, who has been a member of the Melanesian Mission since 1937, had been on short furlough in Australia.
Nurses Gaby and Lechte have been ac cepted by the Methodist Mission Board for service in Fiji.
Mrs. W. G. Wiedemann, of the Melan esian Mission station at Sag Sag, New Britain, arrived in Sydney on furlough by the “Tanda” late in June.
Mr. John Ahem, Commercial Superin tendent of Island Explorations Co., ar rived in Papua by airliner from Sydney on June 26. Mrs. Ahern, with her small daughter, followed later by the “Maet suycker” from Sydney on July 1.
Mr. D. T. Tilley, formerly of the Auck land Fire Brigade, has taken up duties as Deputy Fire Officer of the Suva Brig ade.
Mr. T. Fitzpatrick, of the Samoan legal firm of Klinkmueller and Pleasants, ar rived in New Zealand from Apia by the “Matua” recently. He was accompanied by his wife.