The Waikare’s Excursion to Fiji.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue II, 12 July 1902, Page 95

The Waikare’s Excursion to Fiji.

The Waikare had au uneventful voyage to the islands. At Auckland the steamer smashed into part of the wharf. but without any injury to herself. From Auckland onward the weather was rough from a passenger’s point of view, and most of the ladies on board spent the four days in wondering why they came, and vowing to stay at home henceforth ami for ever. It was impossible to get up any entertainments, no land was sighted, and a good many remained indifferent to the advent of trade winds and Hying fishes and the constellation of the Great Bear. But on Sunday the blank of cabin walls was exchanged for the first glimpse of coral lands. Passengers swarmed on deck, congratulated themselves on coming, and enjoyed the wonders of the tropical scetvry all the more for their past woes. This was the first time many on lioard had seen the tossing surf of the reef and the emerald green of the shoal water. The Waikare got to the wharf about four o’clock, and

the 200 passengers wandered about the town. Suva, away from the main street, is a pretty little town embowered in tropical Aegetation, palms, tree ferns, breadfruit, shaddocks, with fruit-like huge oranges, lemon and orange trees, and the narrowleaved guava. The gardens are bright with the brilliant crimson-leaved draecena, the deeper hued velvety kolias, flowering hibiscus, variegated crotons, and the fragrant frangipani. The side streets are cut out of the '•ill, and either lie in deep, close, hot hollows, or elimb up steep stone or earthen steps, with tine views of the harbour and hil’s. One of the prettiest roads is the Waimanu, at the back of the town, on a peninsula, v ith water on both sides. The hollow glades on either side this road are a mass of creeping vines, while pretty houses nestle among the gardens up high banks. Another pleasant walk is through the Public Gardens, where the chief sights are the fountain and pool, with its tufted water-grasses and blue water-lilies; and the avenue of "Travellers’ Trees,” each with a straight palm

trunk and a single green fan of leaves at the top. The regulation trip from Suva is up i he Rewa River,where most of the Waikare passengers were taken by launches on Saturday. After being tossed up ami down in the reef passage, the launch enters a narrow channel liordered with low trees. This channel opens out into a broad, smooth stream. The scenery is pleasant, though it has no grandeur. The knolls and slopes of the banks are covered with sugar canes, planted in rows, and looking from a distance like fields of tall corn. In amongst the plantationare thatched huts of the Indians, built for them ty the Fijians in native style. The duller shades of the eaues are relieved by patches of banana plantations. The air is soft, warm and moist, and the sunlight falling on hill and banks turns patches of vegetation to brilliant emer aid. Further up the stream the knolls are higher, and form groups of little hills with the Indians’ huts clinging to their sides. This river is l>rettiest from the banks, and never lovelier than under the full moon, when the native canoes

are drifting down piled with banana leaves, tappa, mats and yams, and lit by the flickering red of the tire-sticks. The Indian villages are well worth a visit for any one who has time on shore. Here the women can be seen in Oriental dress pounding rice, or drawing water from deep, open wells, like Rebecca in the Bible picture. The Nausori Sugar Mill is the place usually visited by tourists. It is a whole colony i n itself. The com pany here e mploys altogether about 3,000 Indian coolies, from 500 to 700 working directly at the mill, and the others on the plantations that supply it with cane. The street of Indian huts of black wood, patched with odds ami ends of rusty corrugated iron, is dirty, untidy, and the reverse of picturesque, a great contrast to the houses of the white overseers and clerks, among flowers and shrubs and trees. The company has its own tennis court, and gave its annual dance this week to the settlers around. Suva has never before had such a carnival week as this. It is suprising so much life could crowd into so (Continued on page 105.)

The Waikare’s Excursion to Fiji.