For Lau Group

New Vessel Launched

SUVA, June 25.

ON June 1, the Seniceva, which has been constructed for the Province of Lau, was launched at the yards of the Public Works Department by Her Excel lency Mrs. Juxon Barton, wife of the Acting-Governor.

The launching ceremony was attended by the usual Fijian customs. The people of Lau provided a feast and vari ous gifts of cloth, tapa, etc., for the work men who constructed the Seniceva, which, to give it a free translation, means “Flower of the Trade Wind.”

After the vessel had run down the slip way, following the breaking of the tradi tional bottle of wine across the bows, the official guests were taken for a cruise around the harbour. As she approached the shore again, the Fijian crew dived overboard and raced to the beach, in accordance with an old Fijian custom.

The vessel is well suited for her duty of serving as a means of transport for the District Commissioner of the Lau Pro vince between the various islands of his scattered territory.

A feature of the new vessel is her fine figurehead. This was carved by one of the staff of the Public Works Department, and is a female Fijian head, which sets the ship off well, (Other details of the new vessel were published in the May issue of the "Pacific Islands Monthly.”) Mr. G. A. V. Stanley, of Oil Search Lim ited, was a passenger to Rabaul. New Guinea, by the Montoro from Australia in mid-June.