Small Ships News

Lfr. Lewis Graham Of Auck

fJl land seems to have been associ ated with more ill-starred ves sls than most people.

His two former island traders, iaroro and Alexander, by an

mazing coincidence, both ended

tieir days on the same Pacific reef -at Aitutaki Island.

Mr. Graham returned home to uckland per Tofua on June 17 after isiting Suva. On the same after oon, a 30-foot launch on which he ad expended two years of part ime work, was completely destroyed y fire in the shed where it was eing built.

The fire was believed to have been aused by a sudden power surge ollowing a general power failure ccasioned by a seagull entangling tself in hign voltage lines.

Ialathea’S 63,000 Mile Cruise

The Danish ocean survey vessel lalathea dropped anchor in Ply louth Sound on June 21, complet og a 63.000-mile cruise round the 7orld taking ocean soundings for oarine life.

Benecia Scandalized

Travellers coming to New Zealand >er Waitemata late in June re ported that the well-known Tahiti chooner Benecia, which went on a [*uamotu reef some time ago, and tas since been salvaged and refitted, 5 now no longer a graceful schooner is of yore.

When Benecia takes up the run ling again soon she will be a ;traight-out motor vessel, deprived if her lofty masts and swelling sails.

*Ew Bpc Vessel For Nauru

Ocean

The British Phosphate Commis loners reported in June that they lave placed an order with Harland

& Wolff Ltd., Govan, for a vessel of 7.000 tons gross and 12,000 tons dead-weight for the Pacific Phos phate trade.

Arrenak Arrives

Tahiti readers will recall the May visit to Papeete en route from Den mark to Auckland, of the small vessel Arrenak (488 tons). The ship was on delivery to the Northern Steamship Co. of Auckland, for use in the coasting trade.

Arrenak made a spectacular arri val from Papeete early in June, when„ coming alongside at Auck land with a pilot aboard, the vessel shattered a 12 in. wharf-pile and deeply dented her bow.

The little ship had been in trouble in the Atlantic in March when, striking a terrific storm in the vicin ity of the Canary Islands she de veloped a steering fault and was forced to transmit distress signals.

She eventually reached Las Palmas where repairs were effected and the voyage resumed uneventfully.

Wanted—Seven Adventu

Rers For Small Ships

HERE’S a chance for experienced small-ships men to have a cheap visit to England.

Captain Geoffrey Lund Lack, of Exmouth, Devon is looking for seven tough, experienced small-ship men to help him deliver an 80-foot motor pilot-boat to the Wellington Harbour Board, New Zealand.

The voyage is scheduled to com mence in October. Captain Lack seeks a Mate, two engineers, three seamen and a cook. Delivery prob ably via Suez. There’s no mention of pay. Telegrams to Exmouth will find the Skipper.

Miru Reaches Rapa

After 26 days out of Wellington, the 48-foot ketch Mini completed the first 2,300-mile leg of her voy age to Boston on June 26 when she arrived at Rapa Island, French

Oceania’s most southerly outpost.

Df. Davis (of Rarotonga) had com municated with New Zealand only once —four days after departure—

on the, run to Rapa. Advice of the yacht’s arrival there reached Well ington via Papeete and Rarotonga radio stations. With Mr. Davis is his wife, two young sons, and two NZ yachtsmen. The yacht is expec ted to call next at Easter Island, LB5O miles further eastward on the run to Callao, Peru.

Vila Star For Norfolk

The New Hebrides Shipping & Trading Co’s Vila Star was due at Norfolk Island with general cargo early in July.

When the ship returned to her former home port of Wellington in June, her native crew caused inter est on the waterfront. Few Island vessels call at the New Zealand capital.

Vila Star was drydocked at Wel lington before loading general cargo for Norfolk. From there she was scheduled for Sydney before return ing to the New Hebrides.

Chiquita At Rarotonga

The new 35-foot reverse-sheer cutter Chiquita arrived at Raro tonga, Cook Islands, on June 27, after a rather slow 23-days passage from Auckland. She is the first hump-backed reverse-sheer type of yacht to be built in New Zealand.

Mr. Jack Campbell and. his com panion, Mr. McLean, reported rough weather for the first ten days of the 1,630-mile passage. They plan to call at Papeete on their voyage td San Francisco.

Manzanita Exchanged

Californian Raymond Lee, who sailed down through the Islands last year to land himself in some trouble in the Tenimber Islands (Indonesia) north of Darwin (PIM, May, F. 127), exchanged his yacht Manzanita for a vessel of half the size (21 feet) at Darwin.

Lee sailed from Darwin in his new craft, named Zyclon, on July 1, for Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean. From there he plans to call at Cocos, thence “perhaps India, perhaps Africa”, depending on the time of year and the pre vailing winds.

The exchange was reportedly influenced by damage to Manzanita at Tenimber Is.