Iwahou Disappears At Sea

Movick' S Strange Premonition

rHERE were unusual incidents connected with the disappear nce of the old motor-vessel I wahou, well-known Islands trader, 37 tons, about September 9. She leared from Sydney on September for Lord Howe and Norfolk jlands, and places eastward; broad ast what appeared to be a distress gnal on September 10; and then ampletely disappeared.

It was at first announced that she arried 6 Europeans, and a crew of 0 Fijians. But it was learned Fterwards that, at the last moment, aptain Robert Darroch signed on vo young Norfolk Islanders who ad been living in Sydney—Henry

both descendants of Christian, of Bounty and Pitcairn fame.

Mr. Darroch was a temporary captain. The Awahou’s captain had been iU ’ and w as waiting in Suva to rej ? U Fiiian Charles Thomas Movick 2? A from the in in July, after a trip from the Solomons. When he was arrested j" September he said he refused *° sad agam >“ ‘ he , K vesse '- s^ c had f bad Ilst ’ and he l ‘ hougbt she was top-heavy-he would rather go to f oaL The newspapers featured his premonition, Afterwards, Movick came into the news again when the Australian authorities took proceedings to dc port him to Fiji, on the ground that he was a Fijian and therefore a prohibited immigrant. The case

aroused some angry comment in Australia, where it was pointed out that Fijians are among Britain’s most loyal subjects, and held in high re gard everywhere.

Actually, Movick is part-Fijian, and a good type of man. The absurd Australian immigration law against the permanent admission of Pacific

A photograph taken by the Fiji Public Relations Office in 1949 when Awahou was towed to Suva by Degei.

Islanders has been under fire many times in recent years; but the present anti-Socialist Government shows no more intention of amending it than the Socialist Government did.

Movick is to be returned to Fiji.

Awahou was in serious trouble just three years ago when after bad weather she began to take in water

on a voyage between the Ellice Islands and Suva. It was thought at one stage that she would founder but the Fiji Government vessel Degei went to her assistance and brought her into Suva—a 250 miles tow that took six strenuous days.

Awahou is a twin-screw steel ship, built in Scotland about 40 years ago

for Richardson & Co. of Hawke: Bay, NZ. She was subsequent!;! bought by the Western Pacific Higa Commission for use in the Gilbeis and Ellice Islands, was later sold tt the Union Manufacturing Co. o Wellington and more recently to thd Carr Shipping Co., which owned h© when she recently went missing.