News Of The Small-Ships

Vega Lies Idle

Mr. Cornelius Crane’s big steel chooner-yacht Vega still lies idle ,nd in the dismasted condition in /hich she arrived back in port on Jovember 25, 1951, after sailing rom Papeete on what was to be he inaugural voyage of a passenger ervice between that port and lonolulu.

It is understood that the vessel ras insured for “total loss” only— nd that the insurance assessors do ot so classify Vega in her present ondition. The attitude of her wner is, however, said to be that, s repairs cannot be effected in apeete, Vega is, to all intents and urposes, a total loss until such me as she is repaired.

Whether Compagnie Generale des oyages Polynesiens—the French wnpany formed to operate the lanned service—intends opening le service if Vega is ever repaired, sems now in doubt.

At the time of re-registry under le French flag, a Honolulu news ier reported that Vega had then ;en renamed Te Rame. Travellers om Tahiti report however that, this was the case the ship still ;ars on her hull her original name.

Osita Missing In F. Oceania

The 18-ton trading vessel Rosita is missing in French Oceania

iters in December-January.

Rosita, with owner Marcel Lacour and four others aboard, left Tike hau atoll, at the north-western end of the Tuomotu, on December 20.

Up to January 20 nothing further had been heard of the vessel, which was bound for Papeete, 140 miles south, with a cargo of copra.

When she was reported overdue the Governor sent the gunboat Lotus and the Government schooner Tamara out on search. All vessels were asked to keep a sharp look out for the missing craft.

New Golden Hind Renamed

The Tahiti schooner New Golden Hind, known all over the South Pacific when she was New Zealand owned, has been renamed sines acquired by her Tahiti owners. She is now named Artemise, and under the command of Captain Amanu.

Another Mission Boat For

NH Naval Architect P. W. Willetts, of Auckland, is currently working on plans for a new mission vessel for use by the Presbyterian Overseas Mission in the New Hebrides.

Required to carry light deck cargo and deck passengers, the vessel is beamy—lo’ 5” on an overall length of 31’, and with a draft of 3’. There is a forward cabin with bunks and for light cargo, and a small wheel house with specially strengthened

top, aft. The vessel will have wheel and tiller steering—the natives pre ferring the latter.

She will be powered by a 30 hp Ailsa Craig diesel and will carry a dipping-lug and jib to help her along.

The same mission has another new vessel in Auckland ready for delivery to replace the second of two launches l®st in the hurricane of a year gao. The first, Break of Day 11, was delivered some time

ago. The present 30 ft craft, named Dove, will leave Auckland about March.

Melanesia For Sals

Captain H. M. Frewen’s 54-foot, 26-ton trading vessel Melanesia is for sale. This was the vessel that Captain Frewen acquired from the mission several years ago, the deal involving an exchange of his motor sailer Viking Ahoy, which he had brought to Suva on contract to the

film company shooting Blue Lagoon in the Yasawas.

Captain Frewen has been operat ing the vessel in the Fiji inter island cargo and passenger trade.

Another Tahiti Schooner

Lost

According to brief advice from Papeete, the 138-ton trading schooner Ruahatu was wrecked on December 19 on Tubuai Island, Aus tral Group, and is considered a total

loss. Built in 1925, the vessel was owned by Ah Yun.

Myrtle Ashore In Solomons

The BSIP government 60-ft.

Myrtle went ashore in the M’boli Passage near Siota, Florida Island, in mid-November. The Melanesian Mission vessel Southern Cross was in the vicinity and succeeded in towing Myrtle clear without serious damage soon after the mishap.

Porionuu Makes First

Voyage

The tank-landing-ship Porionuu, which was acquired from Honolulu by the Public Works Department of French Oceania last year, made her first voyage out of Papeete in De cember-January. She had been on overhaul since arriving last Oc tober.

This first voyage was to bring a number of leper patients from Mangareva to Orafara village, Tahiti. It is understood that the ship, with her Tahitian captain, will be employed on this work from the outer islands for some time.

City Of New York Burnt

Out

Many will remember Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition flag-ship City of New York, which we believe made calls at Papeete during her 1928-29 and 1946-47 South Polar ex peditions.

The wooden three-masted schooner, built in 1885, caught fire on De cember 31, an oil stove overturning when she grounded outside Yar mouth, Nova Scotia. Damage was

onsiderable and the vessel may be l write-off. She has been running ►etween Canada and the West ndies recently.

Loma Case

In January, reserved judgment /as given in Auckland in the case f commission claimed on the sale f the Solomons trading vessel Loma PIM, Dec. p. 121). The judge found hat Andrew Donovan, ship-broker f Auckland, could rightfully claim he commission, having been ppointed agent by the then owner, "he vessel had been sold “behind laimant’s back,”

Southern Cross Scare

While welders were working board the mission ship Southern 'ross at her laying-up berth in mckland in mid-January, oil in be bilges suddenly began to smoke nd show every indication of burst ig into flames. The fire brigade r as hastily summoned and the out reak nipped in the bud with the id of “fog guns.” No damage re jlted. (Continued next page)

From Left To Right:

Mr. H. Williams took his trading vessel [?]n spire from the Cooks to Papeete for the [?]urricane season, and returned by air to Sydney on a short visits Inspire at Papeete.

The 34-ft. Ventura, Colin Archer-type [?]cht recently purchased by Mr. R. Ralph, Rabaul, through Captain W. L. [?]ennedy, Sydney shipbroker.

season by Mr. D. C. Brown, who pur chased and salvaged the stranded vessel.

Mr. D. C. Brown, of Rarotonga, may be adding a larger vessel to his little inter-island fleet soon, if present negotia tions are satisfactory. The vessel would come from Europe.

Mr. Des Ashton made a return run from Sydney to Auckland and back in his yacht Lahara in December-January.

Captain Grey’s former yacht Siren, well known in Suva, as she now sits on the beach at Rarotonga, ready to be re launched at the end of the hurricane

Photos shown opposite ;

'op to bottom; Horizon, one of the > Scripps Oceanographic Institute vey vessels which have been taking indings over a wide area of the Pacific recent months.

Vhite Heron, Mr. Reynolds’ luxurious tor cruiser, being lifted aboard Cale lien at Papeete and transferred to the st Indies. in Miedo, American ketch which ived in Papeete from Honolulu on :cmber 31.

Ir. Geogre Hunt’s Fremantle-built si cutter Corsair, about to leave Sydney Auckland and the Islands.