NAVAL AND ARMY CHIEFS

Southland Times, Issue 23678, 29 November 1938, Page 5

NAVAL AND ARMY CHIEFS

VISIT TO FIJI IN H.M.S. LEANDER

CONSIDERABLE LOCAL SPECULATION

SUVA, November 18. The arrival in Suva of H.M.S. Leander on November 11, with Commodore H. E. Horan, Chief of the Naval Staff in New Zealand, and Major-General J. E. Duigan, Chief of the General Staff, as passengers, has given rise to considerable speculation locally about the reason for the visit of the cruiser at this period of the year, which is generally regarded as the off season for nayal visits. The names of the islands which the cruiser will visit are being kept secret, although it is stated that Apia, and the cable station at Fanning Island will be among the places visited. Also in Fiji at the present time is an officer of the Air Force. Certain, work is proceeding in the Nadi district on the lee side of the island on an area of ground which was selected several years ago as a landing place for a trans-Pacific flight which was contemplated, but which did not eventuate. It is reported unofficially that the ground is now being prepared as a landing ground. Because of the nature of the country, suitable landing places for aeroplanes are difficult to locate, and it has long been considered that Nadi Bay offers the best facilities for these purposes. During the Leander’s stay the cruiser’s amphibian machine has done a considerable amount of flying, being absent from Suva for several hours at a time. It is also learned that a local trading vessel, the motor-ship Yanawai, owned by Burns, Philp (South Sea) Company, Ltd., has been chartered by the Government for a special trip, the destination of which is not disclosed. It is thought that the purpose of the trip is to transport native labour to some outlying island to which . the Leander has already taken an engineer and surveyor.