Fiji’s First Successful

Governo's Visit

Fiji’s First Successful Cocoa Estate

ALTHOUGH large-scale cocoa growing is new in Fiji, it appears that it is likely to be successful.

Mr. C. Philips at his Navuakece Estate at Vunidawa has in the last two years planted 2,600 cocoa seedlings in between 4,000 bananas and both crops are growing vigorously.

Interplanting with bananas is a new departure—interplanting with established coconuts being one method adopted in New Guinea and Bougainville where there has been a post-war cocoa planting boom.

Two requirements of cocoa are shade for the young trees and freedom from strong winds. As Fiji is in the hurricane zone, this no doubt is why the first full-scale cocoa growing project is taking place well inland.

A large area of this land was originally set aside by the Govern ment for the settlement of Fiji returned servicemen and for the development of Fijian agriculture generally.

After the visit of a Cadbury Bros, cocoa expert to Fiji over two years ago, Mr. Philips asked for two blocks of Crown land in the district. The blocks were granted—

evidently in the belief that if a European shows the way the Fijians will be encouraged to follow suit.

During January, in the course of an official visit to the inland villages of the Naitasiri District, the Governor, Sir Ronald Garvey, inspected the Philips’ cocoa planta tion.

During his inland visit (the first of a Fiji Governor since that of Sir Arthur Richards, now Lord Milverton) the Governor rode on horseback along native tracks.

During his visit to the cocoa estate he congratulated Mr. Arthur Philips (son of Mr. C. Philips) for his part in the rescue of Pilot Brian McCook who crashed in a

Fiji Airways plane in the hear waters country of the Wainimas River at the end of December.