Makea Ariki Unseen

In Suva And What Happened in Honolulu

THERE was a stir in Suva last month, when the PIM published an article indicating that Mr.

Alfred Poroi, mayor of Papeete and a prominent figure in the public of French Oceania, was not only un honoured and unsung when he passed through the Fijian Capital, but had been obliged to accept inferior accommodation.

Subsequent explanations show that there had been some unfortunate dislocation of arrangements made to receive Mr. Poroi.

But here is another case which throws a reflection upon Fiji’s machinery for greeting distinguished persons in transit.

Makea Nui Teremoana Ariki, High Chiefess of the Cook Islands, and her husband, spent over a week in Suva, en route to the Coronation.

They were certainly not seeking publicity; and they certainly did not receive any. The man in the street was totally unaware of their presence.

But—here is what happened when their aircraft touched down at Honolulu, which is a non-British

city. There on the tarmac to greet them was a representative of Gov ernor King, accompanied by high officers of the military forces and by leading citizens. Bedecked with leis, and escorted by motor-cycle police with sirens screaming, they were swept in a convoy of cars to

the Island Palacs, where the Gov ernor personally greeted them. Then,, the formalities over, they were taken off on a motor tour of Oahu, and their very wish attended to as guests of the island, until they again boarded the aircraft for San Fran cisco.