Our Fijian Newsletter

How Experts Are Conquering Pests-Need for Pacific Islands Convention-New Fish Arrives in Fiji

From Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Sept. 4.

THE Department of Agriculture and the Coconut Committee, established by the Government, are doing splendid work, which is of special interest to all planters in the Pacific.

The Department is doing everything it can to provide parasites or other means of controlling or destroying those noxious plants which have been gradu ally spreading through the islands of the Pacific, and becoming a serious menace to successful settlement. Set

tiers cannot afford to be hampered by noxious weeds as, in spite of reasonably cheap labour, the lot of the average planter just now is hardly a happy one, owing to very low prices for all primary products of the tropical areas.

Our scientists have already obtained a thrip, which, it is hoped, will control the Clydemia hirta (or Koster’s Curse), and a wasp Which should exterminate the spæthe borer, and they are trying experiments for the eradication of the coconut scale.

A reference was made in the first number of The Pacific Islands Monthly concerning what the Malayan fly may do when it has exterminated the Levuana moth. It would die, for it feeds upon no other insect, and the only worry of our scientists now is how to preserve the fly (Ptychomyma) when the supply of moths is low, as has happened here more than once. The parasite certainly does not become itself a nuisance, when its main work is completed.

The latest importation is a wasp, which is believed to be fatal to the lantana plant, which, as is the case in Australia and many other islands, is becoming a serious pest.

The work that is going on here is of first importance, and must prove of great value to all island communities,

Island Co-Operation

The suggestion, offered in your first number, that an attempt should be made to organise some sort of roundtable conference among the governing authorities of the various Pacific Island groups, is one which deserves careful consideration. There are many matters which commonly affect most or all of them.

There is, for instance, the control of noxious animals, insects, weeds or plants.

At present, the shipping trade between, say, Fiji and the Solomons, is discouraged in every way because of the fear of the malarial mosquito being introduced, while new precautions are now in force in respect of all shipping coming to Fiji from Samoa, owing to the presence there of the dreaded rhinocerous beetle, which is not yet located in this colony.

Then the question of native labour is one which must in time be faced, if the supply of labour is to be maintained, and if the progress and w'elfare of the native is to be regarded as of primary importance.

Postal and radio communications are other subjects which call for concerted action, along with air mail services.

The means of communication, at present, present many paradoxes, and there is at times unnecessary overlanpings, which a conference might straighten out. The idea is one well worth following up.

Healthy Finance

While the colony is suffering, like every other community, from low world markets and necessarily depressed business conditions, the general financial position is extremely healthy. This is owing to a strict conservatism during the past few years in the Treasury.

The last returns show the assets of the Colony to be £585,317, while the surplus of assets over liabilities is £219,573—a very satisfactory position.

A Queer Fish

He was not a specimen of the genus homo, but a fish—a real fish. He is known elsewhere, but up to last month had never been found in Fiji waters.

He is well described by Zane Gray in one of his books, and is known as the Sail Fish.

It is also remarkable that, when two Tokelau fishermen hooked him on a

small line near Suva Point, and fought him to a standstill three miles away, a few days previously, Commander Bur rows, the D.C., at Levuka, had landed one near Wakaya.

The former fish was 12 feet long, and the latter 10 feet. Both had large sail fins along their backs, measuring about 3 feet by 3 feet; and each had a boney sword —about 21 inches long. They were black in colour, and fought strongly all the time.

Their presence in Fijian waters is regarded with considerable interest by all sportsmen.

He Deserved A Medal

When our air-mail plane, the Spar tan, owned and flown by Captain Fen ton, M.C., landed recently in Levuka Harbour, it ran into an iron rail, set up on a coral patch as a beacon. The plane was badly damaged, and went out of commission. Happily no one was hurt.

To the surprise of everyone the plane arrived in Suva, seemingly all right, a few days later, having flown from Le vuka at an altitude of seme 2,000 feet.

When seen by your representative at Korovou, two miles out, at its han gar, it looked “a regular box of tricks.”

When another airman saw the machine, he exclaimed to Captain Fenton: “Man, you deserve a medal!”

The two axles were broken, and had been temporarily stayed by being lashed to two galvanised iron pipes.

The front steel strut, which was broken badly, had been opened, and some hardwood inserted, and the whole bound up with wire, while two wires had been strained alongside to give greater strength. The floor of the rear of the fuselage, which had been ripped open, and was patched with three-ply board, screwed on. Part of the tail, or rudder, was tied with string.

It certainly looked casual, although really very stout, but no official would have passed the plane as “air worthy.”

It was a doughty deed by a brave, yet cautious man.

N.Z.’S Prime Minister

The passage through Suva by the Hon. G. W. Forbes (Prime Minister) and his delegation representing New Zealand, en route to the Imperial Con ference, was made the occasion for some mild festivities. The Prime Min ister was welcomed on board the Aorangi, on arrival, by the Mayor (Hon. Henry Marks, C.B.E.), and Captain Sir Wilfred Graham-Moon, A.D.C., on behalf of the Governor. There was a civic welcome, and the speakers, in addition to the Mayor and Mr. Forbes, were Sir Thomas Sidey, Sir Maynard Hedstrom and Sir Henry Scott, K.C.

The visitors were later entertained at luncheon at Government House, where the Prime Minister had a long chat with His Excellency.

Obituary

Captain Hugh Clark, who has resided in retirement in the Colony, for the past six years, died on August 30, in his 67th year. He leaves a widow and one son, who is a member of the Pacific Cable staff.

On Adventure Bent

Suva had a visitor on August 30 dur ing the few hours in which the “Tofua”’ was in port, in Mr. Hector Macquarrie, the rising author, whose new book, “We and the Baby,” is already in its third, edition.

Mr. Macquarrie was a passenger in the ill-fated “Tahiti,” and with a com panion, Mr. Matthews, was off on an “all round the world” trip, taking with them a motor car, which went down with the ship. Undeterred, they are off to Auckland to buy another kit and an other car, and will travel home by the “Makura.” They propose to return by car through Siberia.

Mr. Macquarrie was A.D.C. to our late Governor, Sir Cecil Rodwell, and was very popular in Suva.

Notable Indian Dead

A notable figure passed away ten days ago at Penang, one of the sugar ports, in the person of Badri Maha raj, who was for years a member of the Legislative Council, nominated to rep resent the Indian community. He came here as an indentured Indian, having run away from a high-caste college in India, in search of adventure.

He was intensely interested in educa tion, and for years maintained a school at Penang. He was also a member of the Board of Education. He retired when the Indians obtained the fran chise. He has two sons in the Fiji Civil Service, and he was the first Fiji Indian to send his children abroad for their education.

Stern Warning Against Pests

A very welcome visitor for a day while passing through on the Niagara, was Mr. Charles Judd, Director of Ag riculture in Hawaii. He was enter tained by our Director of Agriculture, and driven round to see some of the Indian settlements. He said he strongly urged the necessity for the most determined preventative measures; against the importation of plant pests, and disease, and he gave the excellent advice that “when in doubt burn the consignment.” Hawaii had realised toolate the need for the most careful con trol of imported plant matter, and that it was suffering from that neglect.

Mr. Judd agreed that Fiji would be unwise to import pineapple suckers from other countries, in view of the fact that the Colony is at present free of any diseases that attack pineapples.

He also offered to assist in exchanging any parasites which might prove use ful in freeing Fiji from any pest.

The only importation of pineapple suckers ever made to Fiji was a con signment from Hawaii, and all had to be burned, owing to disease.

Severe Water Shortage

The whole colony is still suffering from drought, and feed is becoming scarce. Notices are advertised locally asking residents to be careful in using water in Suva, and all water for garden hosing is prohibited. There is only 21 days’ water supply for Suva, and rain is urgently needed. A slight fall occur red on September 5.