Kon Tiki Men
p. 71 · Read in the full issue
Returning Home via America
Papeete, Sep. 28.
rnHE six members of the Norwegian X scientific expedition, which proved certain theories of migration by drifting on a raft—the Kon Tiki—from the coast of South America, on the Hum boldt Current, to the Tuamotua archi pelago, in French Oceania—left Tahiti on September 21 for San Francisco, on the Norwegian steamer Thor I.
The Kon Tiki was towed from the Tua motus to Papeete by a French steamer, and six members of the expedition were royally feted. They had hoped to return to Europe via Australia; but, as no suit able vessel was due to touch at Papeete for some time, the Norwegian shipowner, Mr. Lars Christensen, ordered the Thor I to call there, on its way from Samoa to San Francisco.
The raft has gone away on the steamer with the Norwegians. (See photograph on front cover also.) Miss Barbara Bond, formerly of Fiji, was married in Brisbane recently. ?• Bonney, accompanied by Mrs. F. Ryder, recently flew from Bris bane to Fiji and Samoa. In Fiji, the visitors renewed acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Lance Dietrich, formerly of Brisbane, but now of Levuka.
Mr. T. Mahon, Government Pharmacist, Fiji, has been transferred to Hong Kong and expected to leave Suva at the end of September. His place in Fiji is to be taken by Mr. F. T. Blackpool, at present Government Pharmacist in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate,
Mr. Colin Carpenter, from Karkar Island, in the Madang district, arrived by plane in Sydney from New Guinea this month on leave, and is accompanied by Mrs. Carpenter.
Dr. L. Verrier, one of Fiji’s best known medicos —he has been medical officer at Nadi Airport for the past six months— arrived in Sydney on furlough in October. He was medical officer at Tarawa (Gilbert Islands) in 1941, when the Japs invaded, but got away safely.
TOP: A close-up of the “Kon Tiki” after It had arrived in Papeete on August 28.
LOWER: The French Gov ernment vessel “Tamara” with “Kon Tiki” in tow.
The raft voyage had ended on the Raroia Reefs early in August. —Photo by Simone Severd.