116 Motor Schooner France January 1925. Sunday 12th A hard E'ts gale with fine willows at anchorage Bar 29.99. Pump Anchorwatch Light att'd to Monday 13th NE gale Bar 30.03 Science party ashore 6 am Put new sheet on mast for jibstay & set up. Seizing on ratlines variously employed. Pump Anchorlight Watch attended to. Tuesday 13th MR Fresh Breeze Bar 30.02 Science party 4 men away at 6 am. Employed scraping & painting chainplates variously. Pump Anchor light Watch attended to. Wednesday 14th 5.30 Am Have up & proceed N white Rock where anchored at 7 am Landed Part, Boats crew attending. Wind W & Bar 29.98 10 Am left for Vomo Island where anchored in 13 fms Landed party at 11.30 Am. 4 Pm Bar 29.85. Freshening from NW with rain Pump Anchor Light Watch att'd to. Engine Run 2 1/2 h Thursday 15th 4 Am Commenced to head up but fell thick with rain so remained till 8 Am when left for Vavau Isle & Naniuho where anchored at 10 Am in 12 fms Wind Strong Ws with violent rain squalls Bar 29.88. A NE swell setting in. Party ashore in the rain tie 2.30 Pm when Have up and left for Uonu Yaa Is where anchored off village in 13 fms at 4.30 Pm Bar 29.82 Pump Light Anchorwatch att'd to Engine worked 3 hours Friday 16th W'ts strong breeze with rain squalls after a dirty night with fierce squalls Bar 29.84. Science party landed on Different Island at 6 Am. About noon when Mr Correia & 4 men were sent over to work Tanna Isd. A sharp NW squall struck us shortly after but left causing some anxiety. Boat returned after a rough trip at 5 Pm Bar 29.82 Pump Anchor Light Watch att'd to. 117 Motor Schooner France January 1925 Saturday 17th Wind strong squalls Bar 29.90. Had a very dirty and trying night. Hard squalls from Wt. 6.30 am Stove up & left for Malolo Anchoring in 14 fms under Nguatits Jet at 9 am. Landed Mr Beck, Hicks on Malolo & Mr Correia on Nguatito. 6 Pm ate aboard. Mr McIver's Pump Anchorwatch Light att'd to. Engine worked 1 hour Sunday 18th NW with rain squalls Bar 29.20 Pump light & Anchorwatch att'd to. Monday 19th MR fresh Breeze Bar 29.98. 6 am Mr Mack ashore Row getting firewood. 8.30 am got under way 9.40 Anchored at Navini Isd. 10.15 left for Savuka where anchored 11.15. Have up at 2.15 Pm Called at Tivoa Isd and Sove Kay and anchored at Satonka off wharf at 4.30 Pm. Took aboard 2 5/8s of Benzine at 6 Pm. Pump Light and Anchorwatch attended to. Engine worked 4 1/2 hours Tuesday 20th 5.30 Am Have up & shaped an E course inside the Reef. Light NE Fine Bar 29.99. 2 Pm Anchored in 13 fms off Malakisi Jet & Landed party. Pump light & Anchorwatch attended to Engine ran 8 1/2 h Wednesday 21st 6 am got under way, Calm Bar 29.94 A bright morning with shining surface on the sea and the Sun in our eyes. At 6.50 the mate came aft & reported something about having cleared a rock or whilst talking to me the look out sang out rocks ahead. Put the helm hard over to clear the danger but it was too late and the ship stranded on her forefoot. It was 3/4 lbb and we got off again at 11.30 am without any damage. At time of stranding was steaming to enter between Vhakau Datatoba & Vhakau Nikombia Reefs. Whilst on the 'a act of 6 fms of different Points gave ample room and water where stranded where as Vhakau Datatoba by careful measurements was found to extend 27 fms further to the S E from the Ships Stem Heading SW...