Bested in Batty Beehives Bet

Prom a Rabaul Correspondent.

Two hardy swimmers recently made offbeat history in Rabaul when they attempted an epic swim to the Beehives and back—across shark-haunted waters. r The swimmers were Lieutenant Mike Calder, an officer of the RAN survey vessel “ ‘Paluma ” which recently completed charting the harbour, and Administration-employed veterinarian Julian Best.

The race (upon which hung a £25 bet), resulted in Best commg off second best. Calder, an ex-Australi an swimming champ, Jed all the way to the Beehives (dramatic rock upthrusts in middle harbour) and was seen to be taking his ease on the rocky foreshore while Best still laboured along in choppy water 1,000 yards off.

Making very slow time over the 1.7 mile first leg of the swim, Best was still in good spirits even when passed by Paluma s skipper ° n Shortfy after reaching the Beehives and refreshing on ship’s issue brandy, Best handed in the towel and declared himself officially re “ r Calder, however, refused to give up, eventually finished back at the starting point, alongside “ Paluma at the BP wharf, four hours and 25 minutes after the start. , During the contest, both swimmers were paced by boats, one carrying the “Paluma’s" cook on the bow with a .303 rifle to guard The distance covered by Calder was 3.9 miles in all.