Small Australian Ships for Islands Work

Islands Work

GRADUALLY, the number of small ships required for use in the Pacific Islands is being increased by suit able types, either built in Australia or reconditioned in Australian ports, and delivered to destinations thousands of miles away.

Last year the Sydney firm of islands brokers, William E. Reed, which special ises in the supply and delivery of these

vessels, delivered the 60 ft. Queensland built schooner, Capricorn, to the Mlarist Mission at Honiara, Guadalcanal.

Last April, under the aegis of the same firm, the 68 ft., 70-ton vessel, Halgard, was sent from Sydney on a 3,200-miles journey, via Noumea and Suva, to the Gilbert Islands.

The Halgard is an ex-Royal Navy type cable-laying craft, with a beam of 18 feet, equipped with a diesel, giving her nine knots, and another diesel for lighting, etc. She was acquired and refitted at Sydney, for use by the Sacred Heart Mission, as a stores carrier around

the Gilbert Group, She carried 50 tons of Mission cargo when she cleared Sydney Heads in a brisk southerly breeze.

Acting as first mate was Father Klip fel, and he took delivery of Halgard at Suva from Skipper George O’Brien, and now commands the vessel in her inter island work. In addition to the Chief Engineer, an>d the Assistant Engineer, Martin Riaua, a Gilbertese, the Halgard carried four Missionary Fathers who acted as deckhands on the trip, and three Missionary Sisters who were proceeding to the Gilberts on their first Mission

Group taken aboard Halgard just before sailing. Standing (left to right): George O’Brien, Father Rinn, Don Reed, Father Klipfel, Sisters Catherine Merry. Mary Gerarda, May Thomas. Seated: Father Micheraud, Father Kerouanton.

appointment. One of the Sisters is s trained nurse. Accompanying the shiri as far as Suva, Mr. Don Reed, who hold:! a first class wireless certificate, acted au radio operator.

The voyage occupied six days from Sydney to Noumea, and another fomi days to Suva, Halgard is now in service; in the Gilberts.

40-Footer For Solomons

CAPTAIN C. H. V. HODGESS, of Veils.

Lavella, Solomon Islands, will soon take delivery of a 40-ft. work-boatt which will replace Rob Roy, a vesses well-known in the Solomons pre-warr and which was destroyed by the Japans ese. The new vessel now undergoing, final fitting out at Gladstone, Queens-; land, is called Rob Roy 11. She wasj constructed by Capricorn Charters to thej order of Willreed Agencies Pty., LtdJ an associate of William E. Reedt: and will be skippered on her long jour-ney to the Solomons by George Wyethr who delivered the Capricorn to the Solo-i mons last year, Rob Roy has a beam of 12k ft., draftl of 4k ft., and is powered with a 30 HH Diesel. She has cargo capacity of 10 tons, and can undertake voyages of up to 200 miles. She is ketch-rigged for< auxiliary sail.

Captain Hodgess, the owner of Rolf Roy 11, was decorated for distinguished services with the Americans in 1942-44 t