ISLAND CRUISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1938, Page 9

ISLAND CRUISE.

MAUNGANUI RETURNS.

RAIATEA FISH DRIVE. CAPTAIN WIELDS A SPEAR, Laden with weird shells-., tapa mats and fancy basket* of varied design and colour, the 250 tourists who this morning returned from a three weeks' cruise to the Society Islands, Samoa and Tonga by the Maunganui looked fit and well. Tanned by the sun of the South Seas, passengers said it had been difficult, while basking in tropical sunshine with a temperature of 85 degrees in the shade, to realise, when news was received by radio, that New Zealand had been in the grip of winter storms.

There was a little dismay among some of them when they realised on landing that there was fairly heavy Customs duty to be paid on their prized souvenirs. Mats and baskets, if bought in British islands, cost from 20 to 30 per cent on their value, with a duty almost doubled if they were bought from foreign islands. There was little worry about shells, but the daring man who brought back a catamaran seen on the deck of the vessel will have a bill to pay. Bastille Celebrations. The Maungamii left Auckland on July 7 for Barotonga. Owing to the outbreak of measles on that" island passengers were not allowed to land, and, after discharging mail into a lighter, the vessel proceeded to Tahiti, which was reached on July 13. The call at Papeete occurred at a most opportune time, as the Fall of the Bastille celebrations were being held there during the two days the Maungamii was in port. The* whole town was decorated and the people were in holiday mood. Dances were held in the public squares and were carried on throughout the night. In addition, there were exhibitions of javelin throwing and torchlight processions. One evening there was an impressive march of troops in connection with the celebrations. The presence of the French cruiser Begault de Genouilly lent colour to the proceedings, and several returned soldiers, from the Maunganui were invited by the French authorities to take part in the procession, which concluded with the placing of wreaths on the monument erected to the memory of French aud Tahitian soldiers who fell in the Great War. Famous Fish Drive. The next call was at the island of Moorea, about ten miles from Papeete, whose mountains form curious -steeples and ramparts. The day here was spent in picnicking and bathing. It was decided to omit the call at Bora Bora, the natives being absent for the celebrations, and the Maunganui went on to Baiatea, which was reached next morning. The Fall of the Bastille celebrations were on and the presence of many natives from Bora Bora and outlying islands added to the general gaiety.

The main attraction arranged for the tourists was a "fish drive," a sight rarely seen except by natives of these islands. Amidst .great acclamation from passengers and natives, Captain G. B. Morgan, commander of the Maunganui, was taken to the reef in a catamaran and speared the first fish.

So that the passengers might have an uninterrupted view of the drive, which took place just outside the coral reef, the Cape Cod schooner Henrietta, w?fich is on a world cruise, was chartered and the Maiuiganui's passengers were transferred to this craft. Stevenson's Tomb Visited. After three days at sea, Apia, the capital of Samoa, on the island of Upoln, was reached, and during the stay there a large party made a trip to Stevenson's tomb on Mount Vaea. Among the many native entertainments witnessed by the passengers was one given by the native nurses and medical students of Apia Hospital in the hospital grounds. It consisted of native songs and dances and a demonstration of native arts and crafts.

Visits to Vavan and Nukualofa in Tonga followed, and a day waa spent in each place before the vessel left for New Zealand. The Maunganui entered Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island, yesterday, and after cruising around the harbour, put out to sea and reached Whangaparaoa about four o'clock yesterday afternoon. Last night a fancy dress dinner* and ball was held. The only heavy weather experienced was the night before reaching Port Fitzroy, when a hard north-easterly made conditions unnleasant.