FIJI EVENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1932, Page 3

FIJI EVENTS

NATIVES’ ASTONISHING SWIM. SUVA, February 1. On Saturday, about one o’clock, two young Fijian lads were dressing on the bank of the town creek, on a busy spot, when the younger cried out that a boy was floating in the water. The elder, named Luki, dived in and brought out the body of a five-year old Fijian named Peni, Immediate attempts at first ■ aid were made, but without avail. How the boy was not noticed before js difficult to understand, as many people were about. Last week, as two punts,’laden with donga firewood a;nd manned -Hy six Fijians, with four women and two children, were trying to cross Lauthala Bay, in the face of a strong head wind and rough sea, both sank, well out in the bay. The first news of the disaster came from one of the men, who managed to swim ashore. There was no sign of the ■ others', so at 8 p.m. Captain Twentyman, the harbourmaster, set out in a launch to search. No sign '* , «bouid be found of the people, and as the launch was turning for home it was decided to look up Saiid Bank Island, which lies in a. passage of the main reef, and is exposed to a heavy swell. There, about mid-night, the whole missing party were found. They had swum right against tide and sea and wind for half a mile, and even the children did not seem much the worse. If the people had been other than Fijians none would ever have been found alive.