Old Tahiti'

Memory of 60 Years Ago

PACIFIC shipping old-timers will be in terested in this old photograph (it was taken in 1886 by Mr. Alex ander Drollet, of Tahiti), which gives us a direct link with the origin of the great Matson Line. This picture shows the famous old brigantine, “Tahiti,” as she

was being dry-drocked at Fareute, Pap eete.

Captain Louis Turner, nephew of the famous shipbuilder, Mr. Matthew Turner, of Benicia, California, was then in com mand. He was only 23 years of age, looked like a schoolboy, and was often taken for the cabin boy. As a matter of fact, Mr.

Charles Palmer, now a well-known resi dent of Tahiti, was at that time the ship’s boy.

On this particular voyage, Mr. Alexan der Drollet and his brother, Edouard, were passengers, and also Mademoiselle Banzet, Monsieur Levy, and Monsieur Vienot, Pas tor of the Protestant Churches of French Oceania. Charles Vienot, son of the Pastor, is still in Tahiti.

Mr. Louis Turner for many years held an executive position in San Francisco, and may still be alive.

The “Tahiti” was the sister ship of Captain Matson’s “Lurline,” with which he founded his now famous steamship fleet. On April 21, 1948, Honolulu gave a tremendous “Aloha” to the reconditioned $18,000,000-luxury liner, “Lurline,” which carries on the great Matson tradition.

Tahiti gave a great welcome to Mon sieur M. Coulon, delegate to the Assembly of the French Union in Paris, and to Monsieur Mage, Economic Counsellor for French Oceania, when they arrived re cently. Monsieur Mage spoke to the cheering crowd, transmitting to them the good wishes of the President of Prance, and pledging himself to the service of French Oceania. He left on the MV “Thor I” for Noumea but expects to be back in Tahiti shortly.