MONOWAI'S CRUISE

Evening Post, Issue 11, 13 July 1936, Page 11

MONOWAI'S CRUISE

ARRIVAL AT NUKUALOFA

The Union Company's steamer Monowai, which is on a cruise from Auckland to Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji, arrived at Nukualofa, the, capital of Tonga, at 8 o'clock on Saturday morning. The weather was fine, but a tropical shower or two fell later in the day but without interfering with the enjoyment of the. passengers in the call at their first coral island. During the1 "day the passengers made visits by motor-car to the tombs of the Tui-Tonga or Sacred Kings and to the mysterious trilithon known as the Haamunga which bears a strong resemblance to those of /itonehenge; also to the blowholes and the Wood of the Sacred "Bats or flying foxes.

The Monowai left Nukualofa late in the afternoon. '_[ On Saturday- night, a "True 'Lovers of the South Seas" ball was held with great success, all the participants being in native costume. The anchorage in beautiful Vavau Harbour was reached at 8.30 a.m. yesterday in fine weather. After breakfast the passengers*were taken by boat to the little port of Neiafu, later being taken for a boating picnic to the island of Utugake, where lunch was enjoyed on the greensward alongside a charming native village, after which a visit was made in boats to the magnificent Swallows Caye whose deep blue water, yast cathedral-like proportions, and wonderful colouring were most impressive;

The Monowai left Vavau at 5 p.m. yesterday and is due at Apia, Samoa, this afternoon.