EXCURISION TO FIJI.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1279, 1 June 1883, Page 2

EXCURISION TO FIJI.

■♦ I Our readers will have noticed from | our advertising columns that the Union Steam Ship Company ore initiating a series of excursions to the islands of Fiji It seems only the other day that we witnessed the departure of one of the company's finest steamers on a pleasure-trip amongst, the wonderful West Coast Sounds, , and now they seek to tempt us further a-field with an invitation to change the. discomfort of our own winter season for a short experience . of the tropical charms of the Fiji •. group. ■ • Until lately, New Zealand has taken but little interest in Fiji, and it is best known to us : as the model Crown Colony which shared with New Zealand the divided attentions of our ! late ceremonious Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon ; and siiiceits connection witliv Auckland by the steamers ot-;'fM&' 5 * Union Company, as the. land from ' which are brought the supplies tof -the ' sweet banana and luscious pine-apple ' that make the fruiterers' shops so tempting at regular monthly intervals, Fiji has made great strides since its annexation by the British Crown nine " „- years ago, and the growing importance - of its trade cannot but be a matter of much interest to New Zealand which from its proximity should be in •' the best position to. secure it ; while • the Colony's chief products — sugar, ••■ coffee, &c. — are those which are. most. ; wanted by us. The opportunity of .visit*, ing the islands in the comfortable stea- ., , • mer Penguin will no doubt be made % use of by some of our traders who arp alive to the advantage of extending their connections in directions that, promise satisfactory results. To those in search of scenery Fiji trill supply much that will delight ihem, and much that will remind . v them of New Zealand. Most . of the islands are high and mountainous, and *. rise abruptly from the sea, similar to . • many parts of our own West Coast, riiere is, however, very little level and in Fiji. Hills and lovely valleys .: follow in rapid succession from the shore to the interior. Ranges of Mountains, rising to an elevation of .-* JOOOft, run through the greater part )f the islands, from which the most -. varied views present themselves. Here forest and woodland, with valley >pening into valley many times •epeated ; there the blue sea, studded jvith islands, that show by spots and broken lines of white foam where the sea breaks on the reef ; while the presence of the numerous and splendid •ivers that are one of Fiji's greatest jeauties all combine to form a • ■■ janorama of which words can convey >ut a faint impression. Lovely ems grow everywhere — on the sea evel and on the highest mountain ops, and are found of all sizes, from .'. . he gigantic tree ferrn, having a trunk ; if 50ft in height, to the tiny plant carcely one-fourth of an inch. The climate of Fiji, while essentially ropical, is yet very healthy, the jvers common to nearly all tropiivil aunteriee being almost unknown, hiring the dry season which extends ■om May to October, and which has ■ een selected by the Union Company >r their special exercusion, the southist trade winds prevail, making tho eatlier nioxe delightful than tlvj

best summer weather at Home ; while ■with the wind blowing steadily con tinuously, thunderstorms so commoi during the hot season occur on thi rarest occasions. The ''Penguin wil spend eight or nine days at Fiji, dur .ing which she will visit Levuka, th< chief town and former capital, situatec on the eastern side of the islands o Ovalua; Suva, the new capital situated on the island, of Viti Levu and probably Mango Islands, famouf for the cotton grown tlierS, having . gained the highest award at the Inter national Exhibitions held at Philadel phia and Paris. The Penguin sails from Port Chal mew to-morrow, and from Auckland on Wednesday, the 30th inst' and Trill arrive back at Auckland about the * 19th June : ; but .excursionists who prefer to remain longer in Fiji are at liberty '■■ # i- rettttii by the seJond MfV a month later on.