A HAVEN OF DELIGHT.

Shannon News, 15 March 1927, Page 2

A HAVEN OF DELIGHT.

FIJI AS A TOURIST RESORT.

The attractions of the Fiji group of islands, as a holiday resort are not vet. as well-known to New Zealanders as they deserve to be . Some impressions of a month’s tour of the islands were given to a Chronicle reporter by ■ Mrs W Tantrum, -who returned to Levin recently, arriving at Auckland by the Tahiti, which also had on board the Maori footballers returning from their English and French tour. Suva, the capital of Fiji, is only three days’ journey from Auckland by the mail steamers, and the fruit boats 1 ovc-r the distance in five days. After spending a night, at the capital, Mrs Tantrum wont for a era be among the islands, lasting a fortnight, and during this rime many places were called at in addition to the neven ports advertised in the schedule. On this occasion the cruise was delayed by the expectation of a hurricane, •which, hap ;Hy, did not materialise. Normally the duration of the trip is ten days and the fare is only £9. Each night the strainer comes to "anchor, as, owing to the numerous reefs, travelling in the darkness around the-coasts is fraught with peril. At La Bassa. the furthest port, Miss Thelma Kingsbcer, who, with her mother, Mis G. Kingsbeer, of Levin, was one of the party, disembarked in order to take up the position of school teacher. Theie being no railways on the islands, the coastal ship—in this case the, motor vessel Sir John Forrest—takes a large and varied cargo of live stock and stores, besides passengers, among whom there are many Indians, the labourers of Fiji. Seafaring is the only occupation that appeals strongly to the natives, and, with the exception of the European captain, engineer and two stewards, the crew consisted of Fijians. These coasting boats are also able to ply on the rivers, which, though so narrow that the 5 boughs of the trees almost meet overhead, are exceptionally deep. The roads in and around Suva are of excellent bitumenised construction, and motor vehicles are m very general use. The city is up-to-date in all respects, and contains many fine buildings. Further afield there are large sugar factories, at each of which there is a village. Indian labourers work for 3s a day, and practically all manual work is entrusted to them. As house-boys the Indians have earned a great reputation, and they are a characteristic feature of the hotel staffs, acting as waiters, cooks and attendants.. Except as sailors, the Fijian natives--work but little, and Nature provides for most of their requirements. Airs Tantrum ’went to the Jubilee Church in Suva, at which the whole service was conducted in the native tongue, and she was deeply impressed by the full, rich voices of the Fijians, who are keen lovers of music and naturally gifted singers. No wild animals were encountered on the islands, with the exception of the mongoose," which was imported years ago as a natural enemy .of the rat. Unfortunately, like certain animals which have been introduced in the Dominion, it has become a pest.,, having turned its attentions to the destruction of bird life, while it live.: on friendly terms with the rats.. Bird; are consequently scarce in the islands now.

The weather in the group is such that it is really essential that people who wish to go there from this country for pleasure should do so in the winter. During Mrs Tantrum’s stay, the hottes ! month in 25 years was recorded The summer is also the rainy season; but the downnouLS, although of daily occur renee, do not last long at a time, am they are followed by brilliant weather July is stated to be the best month for New Zealanders to take their passages to the islands It appears t-haf great opportunities still await the group for the development of its agvi cultural resources, much of the lane being covered by luxurious jungi, growth The natives are a kindly am: cheerful race, among whom none o the savage instincts cf their ancesto. are discoverable. In Suva a number o. them constitute a police force, knowc locally as the “Black Watch,” which has its own military band. The In dians are very industrious, and frequently in small shops in Suva they can be seen at work, from daybreak t; dark, engaged in various trades. Ex eellent accommodation is available in the hotels at rates as low as lbs am: 12s a day, and living generally is cheap Levuka, the former capital of Fiji is a beautifully situated town, distair, about 60 miles by sea from Suva, and surrounding it are many resorts of interest to the .traveller. The islands_ of the group number about 250, of which 80 are inhabited, and most of these arc to be seen from the coasting steamer Some of them are as yet without European settlers. Fruit, of course, is very cheap. Bananas can be bought for Is a bunch, and pineapples for 2d each, and the latter have been so plentiful in some places this season that they have been fed to the pigs. The New Zealand party had the pleasure of being present at the welcome of the Duke and Duchess of York to Fiji, and the occasion afforded them a rare privilege of seeing the. natives demonstrate tlieir ancient and traditional customs, wherewith they honoured the Boy a! pair. In summing up her experiences, Mrs Tantrum emphasised that the' Fijian group formed an ideal holiday centre, where the fascinations of tropical scenery and a wholly different mode of life could be encountered with the great advantage of the comforts of civilisation always near at hand-