Clang-Clang-Clang Three

Nearly A Tragedy

70 Miles From

Pitcairn Island

Clang-Clang-Clang Three

sharp notes from the Pitcairn Island bell, the signal to as semble for public work.

It was Saturday afternoon (April 4), a time usually reserved strictly for rest. But there was something urgent in that call, and the people hurried to the cliff overlooking the boat-harbour.

There, coming in, was one boat.

Where was the other?

Two days before, on Thursday, two boats had departed for one of Pitcairn Island’s most popular picnic cruises—a visit to uninhabi ted Henderson Island, over 100 niles away. There were 16 young nen and two girls, all in charge )f 75-years-old navigator George Warren.

The breeze started them off at 5 mots; by Friday morning it had ncreased to lh knots; and, by log, lenderson should have been in light. But, as sometimes happens, l drift or unusual current had put hem off course. After vain search ing around, they left on the return o Pitcairn at 3 pm.

The sea got rougher. Close eefed, and doing 6 knots, the boats :ept close together. At 10.20 pm, he second boat, 50 yards astern, arrying 8 men and one woman, /as caught by a big wave, and urned right over.

Within five minutes the leading oat had her sails down and was owing back to the rescue. For unately, it was moonlight, and all ine persons were found and taken board. The second boat had dis ppeared.

They were 70 miles from Pitcairn, nd the‘overloaded boat was taken long under jib only, until after aylight. Then they used more

sails, to get home before dark. — Specially contributed.

Natives in employment in Papua- New Guinea, at the end of March, 1953, totalled 61,750. Of these, 46,942 were working for private enterprise —25,389 under agreement and the rest casually—and 14,808 were work

ing for Government departments and Police.

The Messageries Maritimes pro poses to replace the Polynesien in the Australia-New Caledonia-New Hebrides service, with a vessel of 2,400 tons, due for delivery in August, 1955.