Aircraft Saved At Tokelau

But Apia Ship Now Missing

lOMMUNICATIONS between [ Western Samoa and New aland’s Tokelau atolls to the rth* always a problem, have caused tra worry in recent months, first came a mishap to a RNZAF nderland flying-boat on August The hull was holed before take at Nukunono atoll, and in a sty beaching to prevent sinking i the lagoon, further serious inage occurred. (September PIM, re 145). first reports said that salvage med unlikely, as no facilities feted at the atoll for even elemen y repairs. lowever, the RNZAF flew in lipment and men from Laucala y, Fiji, and as the result of some id work, and co-operation by the al people, the damaged aircraft s patched up, refloated, and flew Suva on September 11. ’he aircraft had been making a tine quarterly flight with ad iistrative officials from Western noa when the accident occurred.

EXT incident was reported early in October. Captain T. F.

Miller’s 70 ton, 75 ft. tuna

clipper Joyita (photo August PIM, page 117) registered at Honolulu but lying idle at Apia for some time, was chartered to carry Trade Scheme officials and deck passen gers to the Tokelaus, and to bring back a copra cargo.

The vessel failed to arrive at Fakaofo, the southernmost atoll, 280 miles from Apia.

The RNZAF was again called in, and was still searching two weeks later, on October 17.

Joyita was well-found and has voyaged extensively on long Pacific passages in recent years.

Best guess was that the vessel was drifting with engine trouble, though that did not seem to explain the silence from her powerful radio, powered from independent aux iliary.

Joyita had 24 persons aboard, including nine passengers. Euro peans mentioned included Mr. R.

Pearless, who was appointed last March to the newly created post of Tokelau Officer, and Mr. H. T.

Hodgkinson, a pharmacist of the Western Samoa Health Department.