196 Schooner "France" December 5 Balm and light airs. Bar: 30.06 Sabbath Observed. Dec 6 Light SE breeze, fine. Bar. 30.07 6.25. Heave up and proceeded towards Engine 2.10.m Cape Lisburn under sail and engine 8.35 Rounded C. Lisburn and with freshening breeze, stopped engine. 10.2 A.M. Arrived and anchored at Lazariki in 7 fms. Boat and party landed for collecting 6 P.m. All on board again and hoisted boat Fine weather during night, anchor watch kept. Dec 7 Moderate SE wind, fine and clear Bar. 30.06 6.30 Mr Beck, Heil #s, and two "boys" from Langoa Mission landed for collecting. Remainder of crew scraping for and painting masts. 6.30 P.m All on board again. Hoisted boat, anchor watch kept. Dec 8 Light variable airs. Bar 30.04 6.30 A.M. Mr Deck landed alone for collecting brew finishing masts & oiling down. Fine weather during day, with wind from Westward (light) during afternoon. 4 P.m All on board. Anchor watch kept. Dec 9 Light SE breeze, fine clear Bar 30.03 5.15 A.M. Heave up and proceeded under sail for Langoa. Engine 2.22/3.52 P.M. Heavy rain, and wind falling light, started engine. 5.14 P.m. Arrived and anchored at Langoa 8.30 P.m S.S. "Makambo" arrived and Mr & Mrs Borrea left this vessel to go to Sydney. A quantity of stores were taken in during heavy rain. 197 Schooner "France" Dec 10 Very heavy rain and thunder during the night; sky clearing after 9 A.M. Bar. 30.02 9.50 A.M. Heave up and proceeded under engine power for Second Channel. 11.57 Arrived & stopped at the Doctors for mails. 12/14 - 12/30 Under way to Longanville 2/40 P.m. Mr Beck having decided to go on to Vila; heave up anchor and proceeded under engine. 3/0 - 3/9 stopped alongside S.S. "Douglas" for mails. (Not on board) 3.52 Passed out of Second Channel and with all sail set steered for Malo Isd. Wind fell light and hailing during the night. Lights, pump etc attended to. Dec 11 Light E & by N breeze from midnight on 8 A.M. North end of Malekula shown. Bar. 29.98 from Lat 16°-3'S Long 164°-36'E, wind freshening standing to the southward all night with fresh E x S wind and rough sea Pumping dry hourly, lights set attended to. Dec 12 Fresh E by S wind and rough sea. Bar 29.95. from Lat 17°-21'S Long 166°-11'E. Tacked ship to N.E. Similar weather conditions continued during the night. Pump, lights etc attended to. Dec 13 Fresh E by S wind, fine, cloudy, rough sea Bar 29.96 lighted South coast of Malekula at day light 5/0 A.M. Tacked ship to southward. from Lat. 17°-4'S Long 167°-12'E. Tacking to best advantage towards Efate Island. Dec 14 Fresh E by S wind, fine, cloudy, rough sea Bar 29.95 10/30 A.M. Wind falling light, passing showers, started engine Steering for Efate Isd. 12/30 Observed the land ahead. 3/50 P.m. Wind freshened up again, stood S & S with engine gunning all the time. Tacking to best advantage, (continued)