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Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 289, 23 May 1929, Page 1

A commentary on conditions in Fiji is contained in a chatty letter received recently from Mr. J. Price, of Vanua Levu, formerly of Morrinsville. Mr. Price says that atrocious weather has been experienced, the rainfall in the last three months being 75 inches. “It has been hopeless trying to dry copra,” says Mr. Price, “ and the weeds and scrub grow like fury in this kind of weather. Everywhere is mud and slush. The weather now apnears to be ’hanging, and it is a lot better in many ways. We are getting fairly good returns from the trees, but the price is only £l4 10s a ton, which is the lowest it has been for a good number of years. A rise is expected shortly, the usual price varying from £lB to £2O a ton. My yams turned out badly, being very small, hut I have been able to keep the place well supplied with vegetables otherwise. At present we have plenty of mandarins, but although the orange trees are loaded to breaking point, they are not much good, nearly all l >eing pierced by the flv. and they lust drop off and rot.” The closing portion of the letter is in characteristic vein- “I am just off to the other side of the bay to a political meeting, where our member is to address us and tell us what he has done and. if we return him. what he is going to do—l don’t think. Bishop Kempthorne, brother of Rev. Kempthorne. formerly of Morrrinsville, is over there, and intends holding s»rrV« an Sunday morning,” the writer adds.