W. R. Carpenter Ship
p. 25 · Read in the full issue
Runs Aground On
Fiji Coast
The 8,000 - ton passenger - cargo vessel "Lakemba", with 80 passengers aboard and a cargo of lumber and pulp, went aground on Vatulele Is., 20 miles south-east of Sigatoka, Viti Levu, at night on October 4.
No one was injured and the British cable-laying ship "Retriever" trans ferred the passengers to Suva.
The "Lakemba" is the last of W.
R. Carpenter and Company's trans pacific ships, being owned by a Carpenter subsidiary, Pacific Ship owners Limited. She was built soon after World War 11.
When she went aground she was on a trip from the west coast of North America to Sydney. She had left Suva to round the south of Viti Levu to make a call at Lautoka be fore sailing direct for Sydney.
On October 9 the wreck was re ported missing from the reef, be lieved sunk.