A HOLIDAY AMONG THE ISLANDS.

Shannon News, 27 August 1926, Page 3

A HOLIDAY AMONG THE ISLANDS.

LEVLNITES’ INTERESTING BXPERI- - ENCBS. (mom the Levin Chronicle.) Mr and Mrs i. A. Sellors, of Levin, . have just returned from a very interesting holiday visit tot some of the Pacific Islands, during which they got off the beaten track a little and came in touch with, Ohe or two novel aspects of life. In conversation with a Chronicle reporter they kindly gave their impressions of the Islands. Mr and Mrs Sellors left Auckland by the Tofua on the 24th of April, as the first step on their journey to Suva and its neighbouring islands. They but little comprehended how very enjoyable would be their trip, nor the many incidents, both amusing and enlightening which would toe encountered. The Tofua was an excellent ship and the officers and personnel of the staff contributed, in every way, to the passengers’ comfort, so that it was not until reaching Suva that the travellers realised they were' aboard, and then the effect was startling. As the vessel was moored alongside the quay a medley of colour was represented in the dresses of those on shore, which included Fijians, Chinese, Indians and many others whose nationalities were of doubtful origin. The very fact of their touting for motor rides', hotels, etc., seemed to accentuate the strangeness of the situation. The harbour, with great volcanic mountains on the one side and a broad expanse of water two miles in extent, made the harbour scene a very striking one. Fiji is a Crown Colony, well laid out, and boasting good roads. The two Levin people drove- to Rewa, where the sugar-cane is grown and a mill established. Although the hush is somewhat similar to that seen in our own country, it is, as might he expected, much more colourful. Rice,v too, is cultivated to a large degree, for consumption by the Hindoo population. TONGA. The next section of the trip was from Suva to Tonga, and here the difference in temperature was most marked. It was found to toe a remarkable place, ruled by a queen, six councillors, and a Prime Minister, toeing, in all probability, the only country in the world without either a national or municipal' debt. The chief town is Nukulofa, which possesses an excellent club, has fine public buildings, and glood roads. The chief industry, in fact the (principal view, of the place, is—cocoanuts in every direction. The island is extremely fiat and, but for the fact of its being strange, uninteresting. From thence the sojourners went to the small island of Eua, and although the distance is but 28 miles, there is a great difficulty in getting across, owing to the -reef which surrounds the island permitting of a very small channel, which is often unnavigable. It was with the object of visiting some friends that Mr and Mrs Sellors essayed the journey to this island, but owing to the uncertainty of their arrival, there was no one to- meet them, and they were landed with their suit-cases on the beach, surrounded by a lot of curious natives. None of, the latter could speak English, nor could the New Zealanders say a word of Tongan. Presently, however, the chief came down, and, ,by way of signs the visitors into his house, where oranges and .other fruit were forthcoming, while the chief did everything to' make his guests comfortable. After a protracted period of gesticulation, they managed to convey what they desired, and the chief sent, one of his hoys on horseback to the plantation, but the two stranded people had to wait nearly two hours before the hoy returned. At last a buggy hove in sight, and as it was a two-passenger cart, and there were three passengers to get aboard the vehicle, as well as suitcases, it was some considerable time before they -Avere able to get a decent “stow.” At length ..they made" a start upon a road which, more out of courtesy than anything else, might be described as such. There are ruts 12 inches deep, and necessitating a change to the alternative paths offered by the bush, where the rents were interlaced and matted to such a degree, forming almost insurmountable obstacles, that the .buggy often threatened to overturn. The hoy, however, was a good one, and the travelworn visitors at length arrived at the house of t-beir friends. ON THE .PLANTATIONS. They had about nine Weeks of plantation life, acquiring not a little useful knowledge in/ the planting and tending of maize, cocoanute, etc. Then there was the very enjoyable, and somewhat unique experience of catching their own dinner, either by way of rod or gun, there being a shortage of fresh meat on the island. It was always advisable to carry a gun on the off chance of getting a a jungle fowl or pigeon, otherwise it became necessary to “kill a can.” As they had decided to return homewards by the July boat, they wrote NUkulc/fa in what w'ais considered sufficient time to catch the Government launch, put as ill luck would have it there was a hurricane at Tonga, the village cutter had been driven ashore, whilst the Government launch was busy taking people home from a religious festival. Fortunately, the members of an American scientific expedition, which had its own chartered cutter, gave a helping hand in the quandary, and a passage was secured to Nukulofa. JOURNEYING HOMEWARDS. The return to Tonga was made by a roundabout route, viz., Hapaai—a flat, desolate place that was devoid - of interest—Vavau, delightfully situ-

ated among hundreds of small islands lapped by a calm sea embroidered in wonderful colours. By a stroke of -good fortune the sister of the Queen of Tonga was on board, en route to Melbourne, and the departure scene at Vavau was truly impressive. When the Queen came aboard the ship’s company was entertained by 400 natives, whose dancing of the laka (national dance) and the singing which accompanied it, provided one of the most gorgeous pageants yet witnessed by the New Zealanders.

From Vavau they came to Apia (Samoa) which is under tire mandate of New Zealand. The harbour at Apia is a very fine one, surrounded by a ring of mountains, made famous by Robert Louis St venson, whose remains lie at the top of one grey old hill. The town itself is very attractive, being intensely tropical, and' it is here that the New Zealand Government lias secured isuch remarkable results in reducing the native mortality due to tropical diseases. The general administration of Samoa is in the hands of New Zealand officers) seconded by carefullychosen Samoan magis. rates, the outcome of which so far as was apparent, being excellent. A course was again set for Fiji, where first impressions were confirmed—the islands are strange and wonderful, but the nature of the scenery is not, by any means, outstanding—that, having seen the sun rising on the snowcapped Tarajruas, there jwas little need to travel far from Levin in prder to see real beauty.