Our Fijian Newsletter

Suva's New Mayor — Effect of Hurricane —Good Rains Reported— Punjab Population Increasing

From Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Dec. 24.

THE most important event during the past few weeks was the elec tion of mayor in succession to the Hon.

Henry Marks, who has held the posi tion with great success for five years.

The new council consists of four old members and four new ones. Cr. Alport Barker, who has been cleputy-mayor for the past year, was proposed by Cr.

Johnson, while Cr. G. F. Grahame (who was a new councillor, but who had been mayor previously for three years) was proposed by Cr. Terry.

The election resulted in Cr. Barker being elected by 5 votes to 3.

The new mayor is the proprietor of The Fiji Times and Herald and a member for Suva, or the Southern Division, in the Legislative Council.

The Mayor has always been a keen worker in public matters, including the Suva Show, Planters’ Association, foot ball and in other matters. He showed, while deputy-mayor, an activity which impressed everybody. Among his re cent activities was his persistence to get a bridge across the Rewa River, which has been agreed to, after five years or more agitation.

Hurricane’S Toll,

The hurricane, which hit parts of the Colony on November 23, caused a great deal of damage. It was most unfortunate that Fiji should have to suffer another disaster, just as she was recovering from the dual hurricanes of last year. The storm seems to have come from the northern part of the Yasawa Group, and, hitting the north coast about Penang, and Nananu Is land, glanced off at a tangent and then recurved down, hitting Ovalau and Moturiki, then going south-east over Gau and thence south to south easterly.

In all, some 12 to 14 vessels were wrecked, including some mission launches. The mission which suffered most was the Catholic Mission, whose stations at Cawaci and Loreto, on the island of Ovalau, were considerably damaged.

The Government was perhaps the greatest sufferer, as the Customs House and Post Office at Levuka were

wrecked, in so far as the concrete foundation, which was a breakwater, was washed away. The wooden part of the wharf was much damaged.

Sugar Centres Escape.

Suva escaped, as did all the big sugar centres, except Penang and Ellington.

At the former the mill roof was partly taken off, while the chimney was blown away and other damage done.

At Ellington the C.S.R. Co. had a lucky escape from heavy damage, as the big shed was full of bagged sugar, awaiting shipment. One end of the store was stripped partly of the iron and a good) deal of sugar wetted, but this has been shipped to be reconditioned, so the damage will not be great. Ba, Lautoka and Labasa, with Nausori, escaped.

The weather is not too satisfactory yet, and fears are expressed that we may have another visitation. Every body hopes that these pessimists are very much out in their calculations.

Fiji has quite enough to shoulder, without another hurricane.

The worst feature for many planters was the wholesale destruction of

bananas. The plantations had shown signs of recovering from the storm of December last, and the new fruit was just coming in. Now, all the work will have to be done over again and planting commenced afresh.

Tahiti Mementoes.

It is a far cry from the scene where the Tahiti foundered, and it is inter esting to note how the ocean currents run. Some little time ago parts of the wireless office of the ill-fated ship were picked up on the beach of a Ton gan island. Now another find is re ported further away, at the small is land of Oneata, in the Lau Group of Fiji. Some traders saw, and picked up, a lifebelt with the name Tahiti quite legible on it. This wreckage must have drifted 1,200 miles from the scene of the disaster.

Suva Merchant’S Close Call.

For the second time within a month Mr. Honson, managing director of Jang King Loong Co. Ltd., has had a close call. On the first occasion he narrowly escaped drowning when his ketch was hurled across the reefs during the hur ricane on November 23.

Last week he was going down the Dreketi River in a small launch, when the engine backfired, and in a moment the cabin was a mass of flames. There was nothing wherewith to put out the fire, so his suit case was torn open and blankets and good suits of clothes taken and forced upon the fire. After a long struggle the blaze Was extin guished. The party was assisted by Mr. Bull, a planter, who lent his launch to tow the disabled craft to safety.

Distinguished Visitor.

The entente cordiale was to the fore when the M.M. Ville de Verdun brought to us M. Guyon, the distin guished Governor of New Caledonia, who has been visiting France in order to raise a loan to promote greater facilities in Noumea Harbour. He was entertained at luncheon by the Suva Chamber of Commerce during the short stay of the steamer in port.

School Holidays.

Every day for the past fortnight has been taken up with prize-givings and His Excellency and Lady Fletcher have attended some of them. The school reports show that good progress has been made, and a feature has been the great keenness of the Indians, who are paying increasing attention to edu cation, especially for their girls. The schools are now closed for the holi days. As we obtain our teaching staffs from .the Government schools from New' Zealand, many of the teachers have left for the Dominion.

A Popular A.D.C.

Very great regret is felt at the an nouncement that Captain Sir Wilfred Graham-Moon, Bart., A.D.C. to His Excellency, has resigned and is leaving for England. His wife left the Colony some time ago.

During his stay here Sir Wilfred endeared himself to many by his genial bonhomie and, among others who will miss him, is the Suva Amateur Dram atic Society, of which he was the suc cessful producer and leading actor.

Suva’S Sanitation.

In a hot climate like this, sanitation is a most important matter. The sev eral epidemics in Suva in recent years have drawn special attention to the need of closer investigation. This has resulted in finding that the sewerage system (which was laid by Govern ment engineers) is in a bad state, with many leaking pipes. The Municipal Council, which has lately taken over the service at a considerable cost, is now engaged jn the heavy task of re laying the whole service in solid con crete, as should have been done at the beginning. Then it was found that many water mains in the city were also leaking badly, and this must have seri ously affected the sanitary conditions of the town. This also has been remedied, and the prospects are much brighter for less sickness in the hot months. So far, it is gratifying to know that no infectious diseases have been reported this month.

Welcome Rain.

The best Christmas box has come in the shape of good general rains. The fall in Suva is over four inches, and in the country good falls are reported.

Mr. Duncan reported that 3.81 inches have fallen at Mua, on Taveuni, and other stations report good rain. The country has suffered badly during the past year from lack of rain. Most coconut palms show small sized nuts, owing to the drought. This will surely affect yields considerably for some time. Owing to the low price of copra, many small planters are trying minor crops, such as Mauritius beans, to help pay expenses.

Punjabi Festival.

The number of Punjabis in Fiji is increasing greatly. This fact was spe cially apparent to-day when numbers flocked into Suva for a church cere mony to one of their gurus, or early prophets. The Punjabis appear to be well behaved and, in some way or other, must be able to find work. It

has been noticeable for some time that they are quietly pushing out Fijians as labourers in heavy work about town and on the wharf.

Personal.

The Mayor of Suva, Cr. Alport Bar ker, has oeen given six weexs’ leave of absence and has left on a holiday for New Zealand. Cr. W. H. Johnson has been appointed deputy-mayor.

The Town Clerk of Suva, Mr. S. G.

Davey, has left for a nine weeks’ holi day in Sydney after a strenuous sea son of hard work. Mr. Davey has lately agreed to continue in office for another two years.

Mr. M. Brodie, managing director for the Pacific Biscuit Co. and Union Soaps Ltd. (which took over the busi ness recently of the Pacific Oil Mills Ltd., with their soap works), is going to Sydney for a well-deserved holiday for three months. His place is being taken by Mr. Carroll, from Hackshalls Ltd., Sydney.

A warm welcome has been given to Captain Hope-Evans, of the new L.M.S. auxiliary schooner John Wil liams V, which reached here on Tues day. It is, by the way, typical of the man, that he cabled from Panama that he would arrive here on Tuesday, and he did so. He was welcomed at a com munity singing at St. Andrew’s Church on Tuesday night. Two reunions have taken place since the vessel has arrived Mr. H. Bowling, first officer, met Cap tain Mullins of H.M.C.S. Pioneer at the pictures and found in him an old pal.

Then the second officer met a Customs officer at the wharf, and discovered in him an old schoolfellow.

A new arrival, who will reach Suva to-morrow by the Niagara, will be Dr.

Pearce, who comes from far away Bahamas, to take up the duties of Chief Medical Officer. He will succeed Dr. J. W. Hunt, who has been acting for eleven months.

During the month Mrs. H. E. Snell passed away. She was a daughter of the late Mr. Eastgate, a stipendiary magistrate, and wife of Mr. H. E. Snell, now secretary of Morris Hedstrom Ltd., and lately a District Commissioner in the Fiji Civil Service. Lady Hedstrom is a sister.

A snapshot of Levuka. The hurricane caused much damage here.