NOTES FROM FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20104, 15 November 1928, Page 15

NOTES FROM FIJI.

A CASE OF DROWNING.

[FROM Ot'R OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

SUVA, Nov. 9

Mr. Ernest H. Hurley, a resident of Levuka, was found drowned in the creek which runs through the town. On Friday night ho visited the Polynesian Hotel according to custom and left at 9.45. He was not seen agaiu that night. Soii],e friends searched a portion of the town for him when he had not turned up at midnight but, not particularly alarmed, retired when they could not find him. Next morning it was reported to the police that a body had been discovered in the Tatoga Creek. It was the body of the missing man. There were no external injuries and it is believed that death was due to drowning. Mr. Hurley, who was an employee of Morris Hedstrom. Limited, at their Levuka store, leaves a widow and three children.

The steamer ltavenscar, which sailed for Liverpool on Sunday morning with 6000 tons of sugar, was delayed 15 hours by two firemen who failed to turn up when tho ship was duo to sail at six o'clock on the previous evening. A reward was offered for information as to where they were to bo found, but it drow a blank. The police found the men during the night and locked them up. In the morning they were placed on board tho ship, which sailed immediately. The cargo of 3235 tons, brought to Fiji by tho steamer Norfolk, is a record to bo brought to the colony in one ship. The previous record was held by tho Port Napier with 2950, portion of which, howover, was destroyed or damaged by fire. During October only ••l.STin, of rain fell hero, the average for the month, over 44 years, being 8.28 in. It was not a record, however. In October, 1884, only 0.51 in. fell and in 1898, 1.28 m. 1 lie entire colony is feeling the lack of rain very badly. Tho sea all tho way from Roluma to Vili Lcvu is still heavily strewn with pumice, reports tho captain and crew of tho mission auxiliary schooner Endeavor, which arrived on Tuesday from Rotrtina. Engineers of all motor craft have been warned to safeguard their pumps against tho entry of the pumice. Several engines have been affected and before the trouble has been realised the cylinders have been cracked.

This week Suva's first troop of Girl Guides was formed, 15 Fijian gills being enrolled after completing several months of preparatory work. Tho officers are Misses Lucas and Mac Donald. Th<\y say that these girls will be used as leaders, as there is an "insistent demand from crowds of Fijian girls to join. A section for European and Indian nirls will be organised later. The Government, through .Mr. 11. W. Simnmnds, Government Entomologist, has introduced a colony of 12.000 bugs from Hawaii to eat, tho übiquitous pest lantana. It is hoped that they will have a powerful retarding effect on tho plants. The new species is known as Teleonomia Lantanae. Mr. Hill, engineer on the cutter Tni Na, Viti Levu, reports having caught another huge walu, this time off Mokogai. It measured 6ft, 9in. The natives wero afraid to eat it, as it had grown to such a si 7,0. The children's ball in tho Grand Pacific Hotel, organised last month by Mrs. Alport Baker, netted C-14 10s for tho Suva Cottage Hospital.