ISLAND CRUISE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23103, 30 July 1938, Page 16

ISLAND CRUISE

RETURN OF MAUNGANUI ENTHUSIASTIC PASSENGERS After a three-weeks' cruise to thr Society Islands, Samoa and Tonga, tin Union Company's steamer .Maunganui returned to Auckland yesterday with tourists. Passengers were enthusiastic about the trip and remarked upon the fine weather, in striking contrast to that recently experienced in Auckland.

The .Maunganui left Auckland on ,luly 7 and made a good passage to Rarotonga. Passengers were not allowed to land owing to an outbreak ol measles there and the ship continued to Tahiti, reaching Papeete on July l.i. Ihe visit coincided with the French national day celebrations. The French cruiser Rigault do Genouilly was also in port. Returned soldiers among the Maungauui's passengers were invited to take part in a procession, which concluded with the placing ol wreaths on a monument erected to the memory of French and Tahitian soldiers who fell in the Great War, All enjoyable day was spent at the island of Moorea, about 10 miles from Papeete, the next port being Raiatoa, in the Society Group. The main attraction was a fish drive viewed by passengers from the deck ot the Cape ( od schooner Henrietta, which was at Raiatea in the course of a world cruise. After three days at sea. the Maunganui reached Apia on .Jiilv I'D. A large nartv ot passengers visited Robctt Louis Stevenson s tomb on Mount \ aea.

Ainnv n:itivr rnUTtaiiniu'iiis wnr sirn be,ore the ship continued to Yavau and Nukualofa, in Tonga.

Four fancy dress balls were held on the Maunganui, the last ol the functions following a dinner whilejhe ship was at \\ hangaparaoa on Thursday night. It was not until shortly before the Maunganui reached Port Fitzrov, Great Barrier, that any heavy weather was experienced. With a further party of tourists, the .Maunganui sailed late last niuht lor Wellington, and from there she will commence another Islands cruise 011 Monday. She is due at Auckland on All 11 ~»t 11 .