In the Port of Avarua

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Oct. 14.

THE tiny puddle of deep water, which has the temerity to call itself the harbour of Rarotonga, is at present uncomfortably crowded, and respective boat-owners are keeping their fingers crossed against a sudden and dire visita tion of a hurricane or tidal wave.

Dick Brown’s Mahurangi is, too literally, rubbing shoulders with the CIPA’s La Reta; and, while the two Fairmiles make a refreshing impression of returning pros perity, one wonders which one would make the harbour exit first, should the worst happen. Both these boats are moored with bows towards the wharf—a dangerous practice in the uncertain waters of these islands.

Crouched against the side of the La Reta lie the Te Rapunga and the Storma long. These midgets can muster barely 60 feet between them, and when one of the Fairmiles pounds out of the harbour, it ungenerously takes half the smaller boats’ rigging with it.

Al. Peterson, who has come solo from Panama in the Stormalong, is slightly better off than his tiny neighbour, for he is the proud possessor of an engine.

George Dibbern of the Te Rapunga scorns ownership of such new-fangled de vices, swearing that when an engine sees him coming, it just automatically ceases to function. Accordingly, he has nar rowed his mechanical possessions down to a gramophone—which suffers from severe laryngitis—and a chronometer, which also behaves peculiarly.

And up on the beach, not 100 yards away from the boats still afloat, lies the Marie, a horrible example of what can happen to a small boat when trying to make the entrance to our “harbour.”

Frank Dona had the worst of luck with Marie, When within coo-ee of the wharf, his engine ceased to function and his anchor-warp floated off with the tide.

Dick Brown, again indulging his mania for buying up boats, has now added the Marie to his collection; and the facts that her keel has been completely torn off and that there is a nine foot hole in her chine, do nothing to dampen Dick’s en thusiasm for patching her up and sending her up to Manahiki for use in pearl diving.

Kim Powell, on the Wind’s Will, out from the Panama Canal Zone, took one look at the congestion at Avarua, and hastened off to tie up at A. B. Donald’s anchorage at Avatiu. There he has spent a happy time, putting his moorings up and down every time Andy Thompson comes into sight with the Tiare Tapero.

Rarotonga is getting more like Papeete every day!