The Evaleeta

Post-war Story of an Attractive Ketch

NOUMEA, April 2.

IT is rather a coincidence that the Aus tralian ketch Evaleeta was mentioned in the March number of PIM, inso much that this attractive little ship was due in Sydney in April.

The disposal of Evaleeta has been de scribed as one of the war’s dirty deals.

Her skipper. Captain Hector Simms, was part-owner until the requisition by the Australian military powers, and subse quent ceding of the vessel to the US Army. During her long service in New Caledonian waters, the skipper nursed his vessel lovingly—no doubt with the hope that eventually he would have a chance to redeem her. bv nnpe*’ mlitics the vessel, by reverse lease-lend, became the property

)f the US Army when final accounts were nade. The Army had not the slightest ise for the* vessel; often she remained tied ip for wee Ks. Simms, aided by the Aus ralian Consul and high officers of the American Command, made efforts to have he vessel put up by sale—to no avail.

Finally, she was turned over, with the JS Navy Hospital at Anse Vata, to the French scientific organisation, “LTnstut ?rancais de I’Oceanie,” under terms not nade public.

For nearly four years 'the Evaleeta lay it anchor at Noumea; and it is a tribute o the initial good workmanship and naterials put into her that she is not now m the bottom. She received little sea nanship attention during all t hat time— it least, little of the kind (hat really nattered: underwater attention.

A few months ago, the LIFO offered the essel for sale by public tender. Captain >imms could not benefit much by this, her inal sale, not knowing just in what con lition the ship might be. It would have >een too big a risk to have bought her or a high sum, to have her perhaps sink vhile taking her to Australia.

The vessel became the property of an Australian boat-builder of Noumea, Mr.

Hubbard. The price paid is said to be around £4,500 Australian. It is generally reckoned that the new owner recovered much of the purchase price when the vessel salvaged the cargo of the out-of-Suva ketch, Huia, wrecked on Havannah reef, outside Noumea.

The vessel is captained by James Leach, an Australian roving yachtsman, who for some considerable time assisted Hubbard in his boat-building yard. Captain Leach, some time back, had the misfortune to lose his brother in tragic circumstances.

While cruising in reef channels in their small ocean-going ketch, the brother put off in a “flattie” in failing light and rising wind, in an endeavour to recover a cushion that had blown overboard. Despite days of intensive search, his body was never re covered—generally the case in these treacherous waters.

It is presumed that Evaleeta, sailing now for Sydney, is to make a trial voyage to ascertain commercial possibilities in freighting between New Caledonia and Sydney. It can be safely assumed that if she comes back loaded with potatoes or eggs she will net a goodly sum for her

The Evaleeta.

owners, as these two items ai*e extremely rare at present. Eggs sell for 110 francs per dozen, with the Australian pound at 140. (Editorial Note: If the Evaleeta could carry potatoes and eggs to Sydney she would do better than in carrying them away. Potatoes are as rare as are teeth in the hens that produce the rare eggs!