Mr. Churchill’S

Portrait:

Cousin

For some reason, Australian news papers lately have been giving a lot of publicity to Captain Hugh Frewen, of Fiji, owner-skipper of the MV Melanesian. They have described his colourful and adventurous life in many countries and his home in New South Wales, and all point out that he is first cousin of Winston Churchill —Frewen’s mother, and the mother of the Prime Minister, were sisters, and members of a famous American family named Jerome.

One newspaper described him as an “Aristocratic hod-carrier.” After exploring new lands in Africa, living with Arabs in Arabia and indulging in politics in Mesopotamia he arrived

in Australia and in 1923, broke, took a job in Adelaide as a builder’s la bourer.

He has farming property at Dor rigo, Northern NSW, but spends most of his time these days in Fiji waters.

Now a writer in Adelaide Advertiser says: Capt. Frewen sends me his account of the 214th voyage of the inter island vessel Melanesia which should have lasted five days. It left Suva for Lau on January 17, returned 19 days later.

She survived two hurricanes. They sheltered at Weikama for eight days and on leaving took in tow the Moala sailing cutter Tui Maloku until clear of the reef, when she hoisted sail.

Her four passengers and crew of three waved farewell, but she has not been seen since.

Melanesia struck its second gale at Ketei, Totoya Island, where the ship swung to three points of the compass

in gusts that must have exceeded 100 knots. The glass had fallen to 29.29, and an hour later they dragged anchor.

They up-anchored and steamed full speed (10 knots) into the teeth of the gale, only a couple of chains from the rocks. So they tacked and made for open water broadside on.

They regained their anchorage with no advantage, then made across the bay and anchored at Dravuwalu.

The second day after the hurricane the sea was like glass and Melanesia returned to Suva via Lakeba Nayau, Cicia, Vanua Vatu and Totoya.

Capt. Frewen gavd the principal address at what was perhaps the first memorial Service to King George VI. to be held in the Empire in To toya, where more than 400 of 500 people present crowded into Tovu church.

His ship collected the Fijians from the different villages and returned them after the service.