Ownership Of ‘Cheng Ho ,

Involved Legal Actions In Honolulu

THE luxury junk “Cheng Ho,” originally used in the South Pacific by the Archbold scientific expeditions, and apparently owned by the Cheng Ho Trad ing and Exploring Company, of Honolulu, has been involved in litigation for many months, and now lies, immobilised, beside a Honolulu pier, plastered over with writs and similar processes.

The junk was purchased from Mrs.

Anne Archbold a couple of years ago by

Mr. Otto Degener, a well-known Hawaiian scientist. With Captain Eric Debisschop (formerly consul for Vichy France in Hawaii) and several others, Mr. Degener formed the company in July, 1947, for trading in the South Seas. Mr, Degener retained the right to use the vessel for one round trip in the South Seas, each year, and the further right to purchase her in 1952 for 15,000 dollars.

The junk, under command of Captain Debisschop, sailed to Tahiti in 1947. There, she was registered in the name of Debisschop. She returned to Honolulu in July, 1848; and, since then, she has been the subject of various legal actions—in cluding claims by members of the crew for wages, and a demand by the minority shareholders for an accounting by the three majority shareholders (Debisschop, William Scholtz and Harry Brooks), On November 18, a Honolulu Court ordered the Cheng Ho to remain in Honolulu until he is satisfied that the registry has been changed to the name of the com pany. Debisschop said that the registry of the ship in his name was the result of a clerical error in the office of the Governor of Tahiti.

Hearing of other actions is booked for December 8, in Honolulu.

The “Cheng Ho”