PLEASURE CRUISE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 291, 4 September 1937, Page 11

PLEASURE CRUISE

Maunganui Calls at Tonga The liner Maunganui, which left Wellington last Friday on a pleasure cruise to the Pacific Islands, has reported by radio to the Union Steam Ship Company that she met with bad. weather early in the trip, but it improved later. On Tuesday afternoon the passengers and officers held a ceremony of initiation by King Neptune to the South Sea Isles, and the same evening celebrated investitures Into the Order of Neptune. Miss D. B. Harper, Waimate, played the part of Neptune’s Queen, with Afiss J. Wilson, Wanganui, and Aliss Gager, Hikurangi, as ladies-in-waiting. The liner berthed at Nukualofa, capital of Tonga, at 8 o’clock on Wednesday morning, in beautiful weather. In the morning the trippers made visits to the Wood of the Flying Foxes and the blow-holes, and in the afternoon were entertained by native songs and dances, to the music of the Wesleyan Boys’ Brass Band. The passengers were delighted by the day ashore.

The ship sailed at 4.30 in the afternoon for Vavau, another Tongan port famous for the natural beauty of its harbour, reputed to be the loveliest spot in the Pacific. On Wednesday night a “native" ball was held on board the ship. The Alaunganui anchored at Vavau at 8 a.m. on Thursday. It was a beautiful day and passengers were boated to Neiafu township in the morning, thence down the harbour for a picnic lunch and bathing alongside Utungake village. During the afternoon a visit was made to Swallow’s’ Cave, whose many-hued colouring and vast cathe-dral-like formations greatly impressed passengers. The liner sailed for Apla ©t 5 p.m. on Thursday.