THE PRINCE'S TOUR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14038, 22 April 1920, Page 6

THE PRINCE'S TOUR.

[By Electric Telegraph—CorvKioitr.j (Per Press Association.) (Aus. and N.Z.-Cable AssnJ Received April 22, at 9.25 a.m. SUVA, April 21. This morning his Royal Highness bestowed the Accolade on Sir Cecil Rodwell. Governor of Fiji. The matter was arranged as a surprise for Sir Cecil,, who recently received the K.C.M.G. ill the afternoon, after attending a war dance of Fijiaits, the Prince went out in a motor with the Governor and Captain .Joske. the Governor's aide-de-camp. leaving his. own staff behind, piloted by Captain Ellis. President of the Returned Soldiers' Association. The Prince drove through the brtsh to the furthest point practicable by road, and then alighted and walked with the Governor and Captain .Joske for two miles to the native village of Tamavua. In Fijian social life the household is the unit of civilisation, a village consisting of a number of households under the general supervision of a headman. This headman of Tamavua was absent on the occasion or the Prince's visit, but the Prince entered the native houses, which are built of woven reeds with thatched roofs. The people came out. recognised thu Governor and Captain Joske, and then said in their own language: ''That must be the Prince." Greatly interested, thev crowded round and closely inspected* him. He tried on them the feiv words in the Fijian language he had picked up. ending with "Samothi!" meaning good-night. He remarked afterwards that he bad greatly enjoyed the first glimpse of the real domestic ITfe of the Fijians.

An Ashhurton farmer "has threshed a crop of barley which yielded 94 bushels to the acre, the nidney value of each acre's yield being £42 6s. Another item of interest, though somewhat less welcome, is the prediction of Mr Wise, a British delegate to the International Co-operative Alliance, thatnext harvest will be the worst for ten vears. We did not require this prediction to bring home to us the serious condition of the foodstuffs market; and it is our dutv to remember that, having been forewarned, it is our duty to be forearmed. If New Zealand is to ' provide enough cereals for the maintenance of her own people next vear the Government must take such action as to encourage the farmers to undertake the task, whatever may be the cost. No help from outside can be relied upon, and there should be no waste of land in the growth of barley, at least until a full supply of wheat is assured.,