Another "Alameda"

Memories of 50 Years Ago

MR. OSCAR G. NORDMAN, of Tahiti, writes interestingly: My old friend. Dan Mehigan, formerly purser on the liner “Monterey,” and now Assistant Claim Agent in the Matson office in San Francisco, informs me that the Matson Line has acquired the steamer liner “Shoshone.” and will rename her “Alameda.” in memory of an other liner of that name, once well known in San Francisco, Auckland and Sydney.

The old “Alameda” had quite a deal to do with the “good old days” in the South Pacific, Robert Louis Stevenson made many voyages on the “Mariposa” and “Alameda,” and several of his famous Vailima Letters were written on those ships. It was while he was travelling on the “Mariposa” that he gained a knowledge of Christmas Island, and of tales then current of great treasure cached there; and he is said to have then got the idea which later blossomed out as “Treasure Island.”

In those good old days, life in Honolulu, Auckland, Samoa and Tahiti revolved around the service provided by the “Mari posa” and “Alameda.”

Mr. T. L. Crawford sailed from Sydney on the “Montoro” in August to take up duties in Samarai. Papua, in the store section of Bums, Philp &* Co.. Ltd.

Amongst passengers on the August “Montoro,” for Rabaul from Sydney was Mr. H. C. Coldham on a visit to his plan tation at Bali Island, in the Witu group which is being managed by Mr. Harry (“Blue”) Murray. Mr. Coldham reports that his property is well on the way to good production and the labour situation is in hand.