New Nimanoa For

G & E Service

THE Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony now has another ship called Nim anoa. Formerly MV Mootah, she was built in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1946 and refitted in Sydney. Lady Freeston, wife of the Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, re-christened her Nei Nimanoa on Oc tober 31 by pouring a bilo of coconut toddy over her stern.

Captain G. J. Webster, acting Marine Superintendent for the WPHC, recalled that the name Nimanoa was both remem bered and respected in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. (The first ship of that name was commissioned in 1929 and served the Colony until the fateful 10th December, 1941, when the Japs caught her and her company at Tarawa. Her master was ashore but her Chief Officer. Captain Stead, although ordered to surrender her to the Japs refused to do so. He took it upon himself to slip the ship’s cable and let her drift upon the reef at the top of the tide. The Nimanoa was blown up that same afternoon by the Japs after they had tried in vain to get her off the reef).

At the end of the rechristening cere mony which took place in the ship’s fore castle, prayers were offered by the Rev.

H. W. Figgess, rector of Holy Trinity Pro Cathedral, Suva; Lady Freeston was pre sented with a bouquet of flowers by Miss Ann Webster; and the new master of the ship, Captain T. Milner and Mrs, Milner entertained a number of guests.

The vessel will go into service in the G & E Colony almost immediately.

Mr. Malcolm H. Wright, ADO at Finsch haven, NG, with his wife and new baby (bom on October 2) are now in Australia on furlough.