Condemned

Fiji Government's New Vessel

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, Sept. 1.

TTTHREE months ago a new vessel, the Seniceva, was launched with a great flourish of trumpets from the Government’s slipway in the Public Works Department yards.

Designed by the Director of Public Works (Hon. W. Wise), the vessel cost £4000; she was said to be one of the finest sailing craft ever turned out of the yard.

For her type she was luxuriously fitted; she had a diesel engine, was fitted with a saloon, proper bathroom on the upper deck, and was a most comfortable job.

The vessel was to be used chiefly by the District Commissioner of Lau, Ratu J. L.

V. Sukuna.

Before she had been long in commis sion, it is stated that Ratu Sukuna found that she was not suitable, and declined to sail in her. Then the N.Z. Division of the Royal Navy arrived, and, although the Government is very reticent on the mat ter, it is understood that a Naval archi tect, who examined the vessel, condemned her so far as deep-sea* voyaging was con cerned, stating that she was only fit for harbour and river work. Drawing 9ft. of water, she can hardly be classed as suit able for this kind of work.

The insurance on the vessel has been lifted, but what the Government intends to do with her is not known. There is a rumour current that it is intended to reconstruct her partially to make her sea worthy, but such rebuilds are rarely satis factory. However, the fact remains that the Government still has to provide a vessel for the Lau group.