[?]Onolulu-Tahiti
p. 97 · Read in the full issue
Ea-Air
Services Planned
T was reported in December PIM that Captains Bryan Monkton and F. I. L. Barnes, of Sydney, ere endeavouring to obtain sup irt in Honolulu for a projected r service between Honolulu and ahiti.
Some travel quarters in Hono ilu predict that it may be diffi ilt to obtain financial support tere for an airline, when the high >st of establishing facilities along ie route—at Palmyra, Christmas, • elsewhere —is taken into con deration.
However, there appears to be ore enthusiasm for a sea link hich is currently being planned j a company called Rubak Marine.
The prime movers in Rubak iarine are Messrs. Athol Rusden id Frederick R. Baker, both of ew Zealand. They purchased the ading schooner New Golden ind (now Artemise ) and left ickland in April, 1951, for Tahiti, here they sold the vessel and pro ieded to England, and purchased ie Pairmile passenger vessel iilante 11.
Philante II was brought to Tahiti id in recent months, made a run Honolulu to survey the possi lities of establishing a passenger rvice with Tahiti. Rubak Marine as registered as a company in onolulu in November with the ipport of certain travel agencies tere.
Mr. Baker is now reported in igland investigating the suit lility of a sizeable 25-passenger ssel, currently lying in a French >rt, which might be used with an iglish crew for the planned ser ce. Round trips would be made om Honolulu, with calls at ilmyra, Christmas, Fanning and mrhyn, the passengers living >oard at all ports, including ihiti.
Rubak Marine are also reported i having the option on a cargo issel in an English port. This as originally to be used to trans it 250 emigrants from American imoa to Honolulu.
It is known that the French overnment at Tahiti is interested purchasing Philante 11, presum )ly to replace the schooner imara, which may be involved in ie deal, according to coconut dio. If Philante II is not sold ie will probably be used for the ansport of the Samoans.
Mr. Roy Gray, recently air affic officer at Evans Bay, ellington. NZ, has been appointed Airport Superintendent at Sata lala/Faleolo, W. Samoa. He was tached to Flying Control, Fiji, eviously.