A New Zealander Abroad.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8194, 22 May 1906, Page 6

A New Zealander Abroad.

Mr J. 3i. Clarkson, who is en route to England, writes us follows to this journal:— S.S. MAHENO. 80/1/06, 10 a.m. Wo have just sighted Honolulu and will be alongside in about two hours. We left Auckland at 2.15 p.m. on Wednesday, tho 18th, on the s.s. Navua in beautiful weather. The Navua was very crowdcd, principally with passengers en route to join the Maheno at Suva. Twenty six saloon passengers wero placcd in the 3teerage cabin?, but these were tiiee and clean and well looked after. This is a really good sea boat, being twin screw, and is wdl appointed. Tho social hall is roomy and tbo smoking-room is provided with lavatory accommodation and also a bar and a goal supply of electric bells. The food was excellent arid there was a plentiful supply of fruit of every description and the attendance was good. We c-xperienecd good weather, although by Friday the 20th it had become extremely hot, and continued so. The usual indoor and deck games wero indulged in. Our runs wero 257, 288, 28H, *28"> and 26 respectively, reaching Suva at 8 p.m. on Sunday, all runs being calculated up to 12 each day. Suva has a very charming approach and is quite a tropical town. There arc a fair uuiubor of very nice residences and it has a good wat-r supply, but the drainage h exceptionally bad and a disgrace to any community. Everything was reeking with water while we were there an they had had .some weeks of rain, There arc some nice walks and good road*. The Botanical Gardens arc the principal attraction. The s.s. Maheno arrived on Monday

morning and we failed in her at 4,30 p.m. that day, after a short but pleaaant stay. There are only 700 whites, but many thousands of natives and a large Indian population at Suva. Directly wo got to sea in tho M&heno wo found that the days of vibration and pitching were not done away with in this well advertised but disappointing ttirbme. We had 120 first saloon, 110 second, and GO steerage passengers. For tho second saloon there was only one gentleman's and one lady's butbroow, which was most inadequate. There were tit least 50 too many passengers on board, und tho stewards hud to work hard, soldo putting in 18 hours u day. A steward in the first saloon named Farrell went to bed at ll.aO on Tuesday night the lilt, and at 5 a.m. on Wednesday when called was found to

jbe dead. He was said to have a weak i heart. and was buried at .sea at 11 a.m. ion Wednesday, the 2.3 th. The passengers have .subscribed about £100 for th e bereaved ones. The food is not as satisfactory as it might be. There has been something wrong with the refrigerator, and thi.s has made it very difficult to get ice, ana has allowed the fish, fruit-- and some of the meats to go bad. The boat vibrates a great deal, especially at the stem, aud pitches badly in even moderate seas, and is generally tjiute uribuited for long trips of this description. She is only suitable for intercoionial tttfd short trips. Even while writing I c«n scarcely keep my hand steady. The- captain is very obliging, and when eomplaiiits are made he makes every ellort to remedy them. With the large number of passengers, who urc .mostly using deck chairs, it is very diiiienlt to get any walking space. There has been a considerable amount of sea sickness ; in fact, some of the ps-sseiigets have not been at all well. We—that is the New Zealanders on board—regret these deficiencies, as we would like to see this route popularised in preference to the 'Frisco route. We are just entering the harbour. You will hoar further from me on arrival at Vancouver. Kuns from Suva : -287, 300, 355, 35:5, 362, ;itil and ;;<il miles respectively. We had two Tuesdays.