Later Letter from Eric Riethmuller to Lyndon Wade

Dear Lyndon.

Yes I was delighted to receive your second letter. Fancy having a RAAF air drop, what VIP treatment.

Answer to questions.

1. The remains of the pearling lugger was high and dry amongst the sand. The only way to get at it would be with a shovel and plenty of sweat. The mystery was how the lugger could have got right up on the beach without being smashed to pieces on the reef. As you have not noticed it, lugger must have disappeared long since. I think it was wrecked there prior to 1921 and what happened to the crew I do not know.

You mentioned 80ft masts—are these the 2 original? I was thinking a modern radio could work well with a much smaller aerial. Its nice to know the coconut trees survived and flourished. What a wonderful drink out of one of these after cooling in one of those wonderful refrigerators. You mentioned rails in large numbers, they must have increased. You must have some interesting diversions with the diving gear. Close hand observing coral and fishes.

Unusual visitors still coming you say, we saw several kingfishers but no pelicans or swamp hens. During my 3 years saw only 2 ships in passing, both to the north. During my long stay of 18 months straight, the high command became concerned about the lack of fresh fruit and in this connection with some bonehead from Sydney university sent up a long directive on how to sprout wheat in a shallow tray and then eat the shoots when 1 to 2 inches long. This was not really necessary and I think we did it only once.

I cannot remember what kind of lamps we used at night. As near as I can get is a few hurricane kero lanterns plus wall kero lamps for the bedrooms. We must have had better ones for Macallum and I played ping pong each night for weeks. He was my 12 months soul companion 1931–1932. He had not played ping pong before and when he beat me once, the ping pong was over. We did not ever play it again, he was satisfied. For diversion many evenings 5 to 6pm I listened on the medium wave bands for the USA stations that often came in well, especially KFI Los Angeles. His slogan was KFI Los Angeles owned and operated by L. E. Anthony, distributors of Ford and Packard motor cars for the state of California. Later he was blotted out by a new A class relay station in South Aust.

Am enclosing a few old snap shots to show conditions in those earlier days. Having been shut up for so long they refuse to flatten out. I had some between two boards in a vice for a week. You can keep these as I have others in an album. Strange how one can live so closely with others and after dispersing never hear of them again. McCallum, Kelly, Dwyer, Day, Inglis, Hann all completely disappeared. I hear only of Snape. I am 78 years old and he is a few years older and lives in Sydney.

Landing stores from Morinda, 1928. (Photograph courtesy of Eric Riethmuller)

You may notice square ship tanks on several of the photos. There was also one in the kitchen, one in the radio hut. These things weren't much good as they rust too quickly. There were two more I think around the back of the living hut. I coated all these tanks inside with cement which delayed the rusting process. These square tanks were left over from the sailing ship days.

On the flat down towards the north end you may see some concrete. Some bods before my time had started to put down a tennis court but job unfinished. Idea no good anyhow, too many birds and the fence would have rusted away overnight.

To get bait for fishing towards sunset I used to chase the just returned masked gannets downwind and get a fresh flying fish trying to outdo the frigates. Did not do much good at fishing there. Caught a few trevally, nice eating.

All the best to yourself and 3 braves up there looking for cyclones. Any UFO contacts up in the luft with those toys?

Aufwiedersehen

Eric Riethmuller

Bureau of Meteorology