HAPPY ISLAND DAYS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 2

HAPPY ISLAND DAYS

Marred by Toll on Souvenir Collectors MONOWAI EXCURSION By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 22. Gay with bunting and with her decks lined with 320 happy excursionists wearing leis and coconut mats and brandishing native spears, the MonoWai returned to Auckland this morning after a fifteen days’ cruise to Tonga, .Samoa and Fiji. Many of the passengers received a rude shock when they found that their souvenirs of baskets, toys and mats were subject to Customs duties ranging from 30 per cent, down to 3 per cent., also that fruit had to be passed by an inspector. The voyage was not without romantic interest, two prospective brides being met at Suva by their future husbands and the marriages taking place at Suva. While crossing the lawn outside the Grand Pacific, Suva, a man walked over the edge into three feet, of sea, but was unhurt. Off Tin Can Island a record mail of 14,000 letters was dropped in biscuit tins into waiting canoes, and the natives demonstrated their former method of swimming with tins containing the mails. Race meetings were held at Apia and Suva, the warship Dunedin being in port at the latter place. Visits were also made to Nukualofa, Vavau and Levuka, and a call off Pago Pago. The ship’s entertainments included a Father Neptune ceremony, also a movie star quest ball, and as a climax a fancy dress bail.