And Quarantine

"Matua" Strikes Storm—

THE December trip of the Union Com pany’s “Matua” out of Auckland to the Islands, was not the happiest on record.

Due to the outbreak of infantile paralysis in New Zealand, half of her passengers—youngsters under 19 years of age, most of them returning to Fiji for the Christmas vacation—were quarantined upon reaching Suva. About 20 passengers who were to sail for Western Samoa were prevented from leaving New Zealand.

To add to her troubles, however. Matua struck a tropical storm between Auckland and Suva and had to heave-to for some time. This particular stretch of ocean is notorious for its bad weather and weather reports received from “Matua’' and another vessel in the locality, at the time, indicate that the “Matua” had been near the centre of a cyclone. It was re ported that until she had cleared the storm, passengers “had a most uncom fortable time.” As the “Matua” is not noted as a steady sea boat, this can be taken as a fine example of official under statement.

Part of the wing bridge of the vessel was damaged and panes of glass on the bridge were blown out by the violence of the gale.