156 Motor Schooner “France” December 1925 Monday 7th SSW Wind t fresh Sky overcast Barirty sea at 30.06 Then 62 Ship plunging into a W’ean King Sick most of the time since he joined put in the Galley Crow cutter, firewood from at 34°30’S Long 175°12’ E & NW Dist 96 m Shot and Retrieved one Allertion at 1pm and two at 5.30 PM Pump lights looked out attended to. Tuesday 8th Light WSK Breeze Overcast Sky Bar 29.13 Ten 63 Mr Beck in the boat after birds from 5.30 to 8 Am and from 9.30 to noon Lat 34°0’18 Long 175°11’ E & NW Dist 12 m PM below Pump lights and Lookout attended to. Wednesday 9th WSW Wind & fine Bar 30.21 Then 40 All sail employed seeing off lifeboats scuppers, skylight Painting name on Lifebuoys etc Now Lat 34°17’S Long 175°09’ E & OXW Dist 36 m 6 PM Shot Retrieved an Allertion. 8PM Chaper S.S.E for Poor Knight Pump lights Lookout attended to. Thursday 10th W½ Fine Bar 30.19 Then 68. 8 am Poor Knights & S.S.E Dist 22 m Employed cleaning skylights and making a skylight court 11 Am getting overcast Shower Mr Beck out after birds Noon and till 5.30 where fell thick with rain squalls Poor Knight abeam Dist 3m Co B.S.E Pump light Lookout attended to. Friday 11th WNW Wind Clearing at daybreak little barrier abeam 8 Am Bar 30.00 Then 63. Cleaning ship. Anchored off wharf Auckland at 12:30 PM. Obtained Customs with orders to shift ship at 2 PM. Engine being going to work got a tug at 5 PM & Anchored off extensions of Mars Bay in 8 fathoms at 5.40 PM - 30 fathoms on each anchor. Watchman appointed 157 Ship’s journal was deposited in the American Consulate at Auckland, New Zealand, on December 11, 1925, and returned on December 30, 1925. WALTER F. BOYLE CONSUL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA From Friday December 11th to Wednesday Dec. 24th Ship remained at anchor Strong S.W winds prevailing Barometer standing between 30.15 to 30.25. On the 28th we shifted to the wharf & took aboard water and stores. Although the engine had been undergoing an extensive overhaul whilst at anchor she stuck me up close to the wharf, the bursting of the exhaust pipe & the looseness of the intermediate shafting being the main cause of the trouble. This delayed us until January the 4th when decided to wait for the Niue mail due on the 6th. No letter to hand with the necessary funds Mr Beck called & we left at noon for a cruise round the adjacent Islands & Rocks. Anchored at Matukuraieia at 4:30 PM & landed party. On the 7th worked David Islets and Gannet Island. Left Gannet Island to return and land Mr Beck for his cable replies at 6 PM. Went failing anchored in the gully at 1 AM on the 8th (Friday) got under way at 5:00 am. Very light S.E. Breeze and anchored off King’s wharf at 3 PM. Remained at anchor until Monday 15th at noon wind keeping N.W. until sterning, when shifted ahead Bar 29.80. Anchored off the Heads at 8 PM wind failing, Engine worked 1½ hrs. Tuesday 16th WSW Bar 29.40 Light breeze. Under way at 5:30 am. Mr Beck out in small boat after birds during the afternoon. 8 PM Hauling inside of Little Barrier Pump lights Lookout attended to. Engine worked 2 h