Muliama Sails—And

Sails Again

T is not often that Muliama makes the long voyage from Sydney to Fanning Island; and le little BP ship seemed rather •luctant to commit herself to the isk in late December.

When PIM representative went )wn to Walsh Bay, Sydney, to ,rewell Mr. P. F. D. Palmer, BP’s anager at Fanning, returning om leave, the shin was due to sail i half an hour. That was at 9 am i December 29.

Then the grape-vine suddenly re nted that Muliama would be going it to adjust compasses and would dually leave the wharf for the igh seas at 3 pm. Phil Palmer had ;en forewarned.

Back to the wharf at 2.30 pm, to id sundry members of the ship’s mpany, with satisfaction written i their faces and word that the lip would now sail Sunday. Some ;tle trouble had developed about i extra lifeboat for Gilbertese bourers being shipped at Tarawa r Fanning. Another night in port.

But at 2.30 pm on Sunday, the rewells all over, Muliama headed rather sluggishly, it seemed >wn harbour—away at last.

The PIM man received something a shock when he observed the jure of Phil Palmer in George

Street on Tuesday, January 2.

Muliama had made the Heads; and then had decided to return with engine trouble. Ferry passengers were reported to have been disturbed by whoops of joy which came from the little ship, as she headed back up harbour with New Year’s Eve “in the bag.”

Miss Violet Whitford, of Tangis Is. (off Santo, NH) arrived in Syd ney on the December Morinda.

Mr. Ron Calvert, BSIP radio officer stationed at Honiara, was in Sydney on two months’ leave, in January. He has been six years in the Solomons.