ISLANDS CRUISE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 260, 1 August 1939, Page 11

ISLANDS CRUISE

Maunganui’s Second Voyage

The Maunganui, which left Wellington last night for her second cruise to the South Sea Islands, is once again a full ship. . The first call is at Nukualofa, the capital of Tonga, on the island of Tongatabu, where Saturday, August a, will be spent. A native entertainment has been arranged and motor drives will be made to many of the places of interest on- the island. On Sunday, August 6, a visit will be made to Vavau, the passengers 'being landed at Neiafu. After a visit to the native village at Utungake and a picnic lunch, an excursion in the ship s boats will be made to the Swallows’ Cave. On the following day, which because of the ship having crossed the international date line, will also be Sunday, August G, the Maunganui will arrive at Apia, capital of Western Samoa, on the island of Upolu. ‘ A special church service, a feature of which will be the singing by a native choir of 100 has been arranged for Sunday evening by the "London Missionary Society. The following day will be spent in sightseeing and various entertainments which have been arranged, including a display of dancing and singing at the hospital grounds by the native nurses and medical students, and a flower show which will include numerous tropical blooms with many varieties of the gorgeous hibiscus. Leaving Apia at midday on Tuesday, August 8, the Maunganui proceeds to Fiji, stopping en route off the island of Niuafoou, where the “Tin-Can” mail, some 9000 letters from Australia and New Zealand will be put into the sea in sealed tins. The natives will come out in canoes to pick up the mail, which will be postmarked and sent on by the first opportunity. ‘ Levluka, the first port of call in Fiji, will be reached on Friday morning. August 11. During the morning trips will be made to the Cawaci Mission Station, Loreto Mission Station, and Waniloka pineapple canning factory, and the local meke dancers will give a display. The ship will sail from Levuka at midday and arrive in Suva late in the afternoon. An island night’s entertainment and ball will be held in the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva, on Friday night, and Saturday will be given oyer to sight-see-ing trips and an exhibition of flre-walk-ing by natives from the island of Beqa. Native football matches will be held at the Albert Park on Saturday afternoon. The Maunganui will leave Suva on the Saturday evening, and will arrive at Auckland on August 16, leaving there again the same evening for Wellington, whqre she will arrive on Friday, August 18.