Residents Work Their Passage to BSI

117 HEN the “PIM” cameraman visited TT motor-vessel “Reuna” at Walsh Bay, Sydney, on February 18, he found the passengers (who later became the crew) unloading the 100 tons of cargo that Sydney wharfies had piled into the small ship, and reloading it more to their own liking. That is why these photographs differ from those usually published in the “Pacific Travellers” series.

“Ruena” was recently purchased in Newcastle by the Fairymead Sugar Co..

Ltd., and refitted by Company employees in Sydney for use in the Solomons. She is 85 feet long with a 20 ft. beam, and due

to good planning and workmanship has facilities "and comforts of a ship of much greater size.

When she left Sydney, she carried as well as employees of the Company re turning to their coconut plantations in the Solomons, a few other BSI resi dents to whom offer of transport on the small ship was the answer to many frustrated months of seeking in Austra lia.

“Ruena’s” first sccheduled call was to Bundaberg (Q’ld.), where other passen gers were to be picked up; but, owing to the death of Chief-engineer Sydney R.

Jones (see panel), the vessel had to call at Brisbane. Bundaberg was finally reached on February 26.

Those travelling on the ship from Sydney were: - Mr. O. Bergin, Islands manager for the Fairymead Sugar Co., Ltd., with which he has been associated for the past 20 years. He is returning to “Yandina”

Plantation in the Russell Group.

Mr. J. Darlington, who has spent the last five years in Sydney, returning to open up the “Mamara” and “Domma" plantations.

Mr. J. Thompson, well-known Solomon Island and New Guinea Identity, who was bound for “Rere” plantation, on Gaudal canal, where he will act for Mr. J. C.

Williamson who has gold mining and plantation interests there.

Mr. H. Corry, who returned, as a pri vate planter, to “Rere” plantation.

Mr. H. Davies, who has obtained a lease of a small gold mine at Gaudal canal. Mr. Davies was evacuated from Cape Maron, in the Russell Group, in 1941. He returned in January. 1942, to join the BSI Labour Corps—a unit brought together by the Solomon Islands Government with the object of assisting the Americans by supervising native em ployment.

H. Davies.

H. Corry.

J. Thompson.

MV “Ruena” dwarfed by a Sydney wharf.

Mr. O. Bergin.

Passen gers who were taken to the Solomons from Bund a berg (Q’ld.) by the MV “Rue na” were: Messrs. J. R.

Caskey, D. C.

Laurie, H.

Craucher, A. V.

Hurst and J.

V. Hurst who are all associ ated with the Fairy mead Sugar Co. Ltd.

“Ruena’s” first port in BSI will be "Yandina” planta tion, which is in the Russell Group.

J. Darlington.