Loss Of Aeroplane In Cook

Islands

r[IS is how H.M.S. “Achilles” lost an amphibian aircraft at Aitutaki (Cook Islands) early in July : The ship was slowly cruising in circles when the aircraft, having finished a flight over the land, came off to be taken on board.

Two men manned the aircraft. The pilot. Lieutenant Sykes, brought it down and began to taxi up to the side of the ship, while Leading Telegraphist P. Trent, sitting on the wing secured by a safety chain, got ready to hook the machine to the ship’s crane for hoisting on board.

Suddenly, just as it came alongside, the aircraft was caught by a swell ana over turned. Mr. Trent was thrown into the water and Lieutenant Sykes slipped his safety belt as the craft tipped over and

struggled clear. Bottom up, the amphibian did not sink for about half an hour, and for the whole of that time the two men made gallant efforts, disdaining the pos sible presence of sharks, f o secure sal vage lines to it. They were assisted by the crew of two seaboats, a cutter and a whaleboat, which were immediately lowered, but the fact that the machine was upside down prevented efforts to se cure it before it sank.

Two deaths occurred in Nukualofa, Tonga, in August. Mr. Fred J. Watkin, eldest son of the Rev. J. B. Watkin, who was head of the Free Church of Tonga for many years, passed away after a long illness. Mr. Samuel Stewart, at one time Assistant Manager for Messrs. D. H. &' P.

G., the big German firm, in Haapai, passed away suddenly in the Government Hospital.