WINTER EXCURSIONS TO THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6949, 25 February 1884, Page 5

WINTER EXCURSIONS TO THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

The interest created by the special excursion to the Islanda of the Fiji Group, carried, out by the company last season, has induced the directors to contemplate a repetition'of the trip, but on a more extended basis, so as to inolude a, visit to -Samoa and: .Tonga Islands, which are yearly growing . in importance commercially, but with: which there is no communication at present, except by stray sailing vessels. The company' have; therefore decided, should sufficient inducement offer, to despatch one of their finest steamers, the Wairarapa, of 1786 tons gross register, H. YV. H.VChatfield,' commanded, on a month's cruise to . the islands of the South Pacific. It is proposed that she will leave Auckland on Wednesday, 4th June, connecting with the steamer from Melbourne via Southern: ports of New Zealand, due at Auckland on Monday, 2nd June, and with? that: from Sydney direct, dnt on Tuesday, 3rd June; ° She will be absent from Auckland exactly four week?, and will arrive back on Wednesday 2nd July, connecting with the steamer; for Melbourne and Southern porta of New: Zealand, leaving Auckland on Thursday, 3rd July, and arriving at Melbourne on Wednesday, 16th July, and with the steamer which will leave Auckland for Sydney on; Wednesday, 2nd July, reaching Sydney on Monday,: 7th July. The programme of the; exourston : will be somewhat as follows :—Auckland ' to Fiji, occupying about 4 days; spend visiting different islands of the group, 6 days. Fiji to Samoa, tn route, 3 days ; spend about on the island, 4 days. Samoa to Tonga, en route, 3 days; spend there, 4 days. Return voyage, Tonga, to Auckland, 4 days. In this way about one-half of the time will be spent in voyaging, and one-half in visiting and exploring tbe islands. The Wairarapa has berthing accommodation, for over 200 passengers, but in order to ensure the highest degree of /comfort the; number of excursionists will be limited to 100 first-claßß paßßengersi-being a few nnder the number for which there ia dining accommodation in the saloon. Sxcept in the larger cabins not more than-two passengers will be berthed in each state room. The saloon sleeping accommodation will be reserved as far as possible for ladies and married couples, while the forward' sabihs will be kept for. single gentlemen, for whose use extra bath? rooms and other conveniences . will. be erected. All passengers, however, will dine together in tbe saloon at one . time.. The steamer will also be specially fitted up for a tropical voyage, and arrangements have been made for carrying a refrigerating machine, so that fresh provisions,. &0., will be avaiU able during the entire voyage. The islands of the South Pacific have hitherto created: interest chiefly from the richness and variety of their tropical beauty, but as:: the Australian colonies have grown in importance, the political and commercial v&lne of these distant islands has correspondingly .increased. No opportunity of visiting them under similarly (avQurable, conditions, has yet been offered to the public. The trip will be made at the most enjoyable time, of the year, when, the temperature is pleasantly cool, and, the hurricane season, being over, fine weather may be depended upon. No effort, will be spared to make the excursion a success. The excursion will only be made in the event , of 70 passengers being booked, and to pre-, vent disappointment to intending passengers aB well as-to allow of the necessary arrangements being made in connection with. the. steamer, the company must'decide definitely at leant one month before.the proposed date of sailing whether or not the trip will bo carried ont. Passengers must therefore book and pay a deppsit of one-half the passage money on or before the /let of May, and in the event of the excursion not taking place the deposit will be returned :io full. Tho fare from Auckland has been fixed at £30, and further particulars can .-be ascertained on application at the' company's offices in Fort-street.