18 Missing

Fiji Launch Wrecked

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, April 23.

A SURVIVOR, John Miller, who swam and drifted 25 miles to Vanua Levu (Northern Fiji), brought news, on April 16. that the 9-tons launch “Rogo voka". with a number of European pas sengers, had been wrecked off Vatui- Thake Island, mid-way between Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, main island of the group.

A search for survivors was carried out, but only two Indians who had been washed ashore on a raft were found.

The list of missing is believed to be: Mr. Gordon Spaeth, Mr. S. G. Pyrke (underground manager of Mt. Kasi Mine), Mr. Nicholas Jdanoff, Mr. George Driver (owner of the “Rogovoka”), his wife and two children, Mrs. S. Weather all. Pilomena Shute (18), Tegu Shute (18), Susan Wilson (14), one Chinese, five .Fijians and one Indian.

The Indians who were rescued said that Mesdames Driver and Weatherall disappeared when the raft was smashed on a reef, and that Jdanoff and a Chinese, who left the raft on spars had not since been seen.

Pastor H. R. Steed, a well-known worker for the Seventh Day Adventist Mission, died in Sydney recently. He was in Fiji for several years as a mis sionary, and then went to New Guinea about nine years ago. He was connected with educational work in New Britain for five or six years before returning to Australia in 1937.