ISLAND NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 22 October 1926, Page 8

ISLAND NEWS.

OUR FIJI LETTER.

CESSION DAY CELEBRATED

(From Oar Own Correspondent.l ■ SUVA, October IS.

The annual celebration of Cession D»» wae observed quietly this year hy « special service in the Town Hall on Sunday, when, the building was packed to the door, with, a congregation.. whkh was largely Fijian. On the plstf ona the Fijian Native Military Band took quite a prominent part in the service. Alongside them sat the native choir from the Methodist Jubilee Church. The Eev, R, L. Mac Donald conducted'the service) which was attended by his Excellency the Governor, with his Worship the Mayor {Councillor H. Marks, C.8.E.). and many members of the Government and prominent citizens. Mr. MacDonald preached in Fijian, taking as Mi text from Joshua, the . words "What mean ye by those stones ?" He referred to the ceding of the group by all the leading chiefs to Queen Victoria in 1874, and referred to the stone memorial of the event in grassed reserve in the, middle of the town, and told them to always keep their children informed at to what this stone represented, and all it stood for, with ite train of BritigH protection, and the resultant prosperity and comfort which had come to then and their children. The singing in Fijian was very fine, and included a solo by a Fiji girl, Maria, who had a good voice, rather a novelty in a country where the women have as a rule very poor voices. " '

Methodist Synofl. '•'■

The annual Methodist, Synod opened on Tuesday evening with a public Meeting, where the representatives of other, churches welcomed the country delegates. Rev. C. O. Lelean returned from theposi* tion of' district secretary, and Eev. i, G. Adamson, M.A., was elected in hit stead. A. special effort is to be made to stop the growing desecration of Sundays by natives, who are often asked to work by European masters. More effective organisation in Sunday school work was referred to a special commit. tee.

The Suva Show.. The second annual show has just bees held in fine weather, and was' attended by over 3000 people. It was opehedby the Governor, who said that Fiji wanted better roads and a, better steamship service, to allow the country people to send' in exhibits, and to attend themselves. This sentiment was naturally much applauded. A rather unique performance was recorded by the Savu Savu district. Savu Savu lies on the south coast of Vanua Levu. The people there held a small show on Friday and' Saturday; they packed up the choicest things from their show and shipped it and their committee on board a schooner, leaving there oa Sunday morning, arriving at Suva on Sunday night, after a rough trip, and had the exhibit erected at the Suva show, ready for the opening on Monday at 11 a.m. Their enterprise aroused the enthusiasm of the people, and they were heartily congratulated, and when the exhibit was awarded the prize for best display, besides many individual others, including best for both sun-dried and kiln-dried copra, they were loudly, applauded.

A Straying Yacht It is not often that a yacht goe» astray, but such was the case with thi cutter yacht Otufoloneti, which left Namuka, in Tonga, for Nukualofa, with 22 people on board, and provisions for them for a-couple of days. She sailed on September 22, and the master, finding he could not reach his destination! sheered off to the west for Fiji. Happily, for the twenty-two, for the skipper seemed to have only a very rudimentarj; idea of navigation, she struck the southerly isle of Moco, where freeh coconuts and water were taken in. Dodging north among the Lav group, she at last reached the larger island of Lakomba, where there was a European teacher and school. Here they were well fed and given a pilot, who brought them to Suva. Most, of the. twenty* two are returning home by the TofuV not desiring a repetition of their experience. Even the captain insists upon going in the Tofua, and the yacht hat been taken charge of by the Wester* Pacific High Commission. Drinking Among Natives.

The need for prohibition among the natives is becoming more apparent Liquor can be obtained by anyone, whether the person has a permit-or not« Indian motor car drivers carry at least one bottle with them, and dispense it among the native or Indian passengers. A strong prohibition league has been formed, and last Friday members were addressed by Mrs. Lee-Cowie and Rev. J. W. Kemp, both of New Zealand. Their visit will help to strengthen tluj local enthusiasts.