Big Fleet Of Small Ships

New Department of Western Pacific Commission

UNDER the new policy of economic control adopted by the British Colonial Office in relation to certain Territories in the past three years, the Shipping Department of the High Com mission of the Western Pacific (head quarters at Suva) has assumed consider able importance.

The Department now controls a con siderable fleet of small vessels including the following: 2 Trade Scheme ships, the old yacht

Kiakia, and 2 60-footers, used in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. 5 Ships (Kuramarau, Mary, Myrtle, Majorie, Biliki) and a number of smaller craft, used in the Solomons.

Under construction or alteration in Aus tralian ship-yards; 1 300-tonner; 1 vessel 85 ft. long; and 2 65-footers— most of which are understood to be destined for the Solomons.

The “Awahou,” which was recently at Pitcairn Island, is to be sold, according to recent reports.

In addition, the Western Pacific Com mission has just bought a new motor vessel of 300 tons which is to take the place of the “Nimanoa,” as an adminis trative communication ship in the Gilbert and Ellice Colony.

“Nimanoa” was run on the reef in

Tarawa Lagoon by her crew to save her rrom the Japs when the latter invaded Tarawa in December, 1941.

The ne . w . shi P may be named “Nimanoa 11. Captain G. J. Webster, who has com manded various ships in the service of the Fiji Government and the Western Pacific Commission, arrived in Sydney in November to take over the new ship, which then was en route from Hobart.

She will be prepared in Sydney for her voyage to Suva. Captain Webster brought 3 Gilbertese sailors with him in the plane and 12 more are on their wav to Sydney by ship, presumably from Ocean Island.

Deck officers are to be engaged in Syd ney; and an endeavour is being made to get the new vessel away from Sydney to Fiji before the holiday season.

This fleet of little ships is under the control of Captain H. G. Boys-Smith, DSO and Bar and various other decora tions, who is now Marine Superintendent for the High Commission of the Western Pacific and whose offices are in the Gov ernment Building, Suva. Captain Boys- Smith, who had a distinguished war career, took over this position a couple of years ago.