INTERESTING VISITOR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 83, 18 January 1928, Page 4

INTERESTING VISITOR.

FIJI CHIEF IN CHRISTCHURCH. FINDS CLIMATE SEVERE. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Wearing the native costume, with a' sulu, or loin cloth, down to the knees, Ratu Saiiosi, a Fijian chief, had a look at Christchurch yesterday. Along with many of his race he has been converted to Christianity, and is attending the annual South Island conference of Seventh Day Adventists, at the Addington Showgrounds. He attracted attention in his travel through the streets.. Next Sunday he will givean address in his native tongue at a service at 7.30 p.m v and his talk, on the progress of Fiji from cannibalism to Christianity, will be interpreted by Pastor A. Stewart, the Australian vicepresident for Island Missions. The service will be broadcast.

Ratu Saiiosi cannot speak English,, and this is his first visit to New Zealand. He is not entirely unacquainted with life outside of his Island group r . he having visited all the Australian i capitals five years ago. Of his first experience of a lift in one of the Sydney hotels he confided in Pastor Stewartthat "a man, pressed a button and the whole room went to the top of the building." The climate of Christchurch is a j little severe when one wears the native costume,, according to the Fijian chief. He is hatless, and without footwear for his dusky-brown feet, but there is a western touch about him in his wearing above the sulu an ordinary sports coat and shirt, collar and tie. Though sometimes cold, he prefers his - native costume when in New Zealand. "Ratu has a very interesting story of the early days of Fiji, which he remembers vividly," sai:l Pastor Stewart,, in speaking of the native yesterday. "His address will be on the wonderful transformation which the preaching of the Gospel has brought about in Fiji. The Fijians were recognised as a very wild race, ferocious, and cannibalistic. When Ratu's father accepted Christianity and went into the heathen villages ■ to convert his tribesmen and to organise religious services he was sometimesoffered roast human flesh. He graciously accepted the parcel and took it down the road and buried it. "Ratu served the Government forthirty years, for a good deal of that time as a native magistrate. For thelast ten years he has helped in missionary work as assistant to the superintendent of the mission. Ratu has • come to New Zealand as a representative of the South Sea Islands race. We considered the visit advisable, in viewof there being many New Zealand subscribers to the mission, and I trust that his coming will awaken more interest; in the spiritual welfare of Ihe Island.' people."