Island (With 59 Palms)

But Where Does He Go From There?

Limerick Winner Takes His Island (With 59 Palms)

By a Special Correspondent

Wiser counsel apparently prevailed with Mr. Kent Shelby— the American who won a Fiji island last year by supplying the last line of a limerick.

II7HEN he arrived in Suva in Y? Orcades at the end of February, he was accompanied not by his ivife and 15-months-old daughter, out by his friend Douglas Howard svho was better able to stand the vigours of life on a pint-sized islet n the Pacific—equipped with some mid and mangroves, but a fine oeach on one side; 59 coconuts; a furnished Fijian hure; and an out board punt.

Heaven knows what Mr. Shelby intends to do with the island —but there has been a suggestion that he would like to raise fruit and poultry there. What he got for his prize

was a life interest in the island plus a return trip to Fiji from Cali fornia and two weeks’ holiday in the Colony. What happens next is strictly up to him—and maybe to his friend Douglas Howard, who is a pro

fessional photographer.

The pair stayed two days in Suva and two in Lautoka, and then on the afternoon of February 28, started off with a local welcoming party for the island which is two miles off shore near Lautoka.

Mr. Bob Howlett, of the Fiji Visitors’ Bureau, who organised the Fiji end of the limerick competition, has written this description of their first reaction to the prize island.

Here it is, plugs and all: “A half-hour run in the launch brought them within close range of the beach and surroundings. Shelby, scanning the scene with binoculars, was delighted with what he saw.

T had been led to believe it was much smaller and not as pretty as it really is’, he said. ‘lt’s terrific!’

Furniture on Loan “The vessel anchored about one hundred yards from the beach and the boys and their luggage were ferried ashore in a dinghy. Once on the island they made straight for the bure. The interior had been furnished with loan furniture from Northern Hotels Ltd. Tapa or masi cloth covered a corner wardrobe and the front of the small bar. Gay yellow and green painted cane chairs occupied one-half of the bure.

Two single beds with green bed spreads balanced the furniture arrangement, and a table, an icebox and a safe lent an utilitarian air.

Bamboo vases with green trailing plants hung from the walls and clam shells with creeper plants decorated the table and the bar.

“Shortly after arriving, the boys were welcomed by the turaga-ni koro (headman) and villagers in traditional Fijian dress from the nearby Fijian koro of Vitogo.

Yaqona, or kava, was prepared and offered to the new arrivals and they were presented with two lovely salusalus or leis.

“Shelby thanked everyone for their kindness at the conclusion of the presentation, and then set out to explore his own tropical island.

Shelby’s main interest was in th outboard motor donated by th Pacific Area Travel Association The motor was attached to a smas punt rented for the occasion by tH Visitors’ Bureau. In a matter < minutes (after looking over tH island) Shelby decided to see from the sea and he set off with on of the Fijian lads.

Island Outrigger

“A large outrigger canoe goc with the island, but Shelby thougl; he had better take lessons in ho to sail an outrigger before puttii. out to sea. Other things he and hi friend had to learn were the metho< of lighting a Coleman keroseii double burner stove and a benzri lamp. And how to cook. The fin few meals were conventional. Stes chops, bacon, eggs and canned veg? tables. But Shelby hopes to spean fish or two, catch a crayfish, or ui earth a clam colony.

“The escorting party stayed ■ the island for several hours waitfi for Shelby to return from his- or; board motor trip. They finally cb cided to move back to the town. . they rounded the island, in tt distance, standing in a small ding? was Kent Shelby. He had learnt E fiist lesson—make sure the claim of your outboard motor are secure fastened to your vessel.

“The motor was recovered later: about seven feet of water.”

Kent Shelby (left, in the striped blazer) an[?] his friend Douglas Howard, receiving leis fr[?] Mrs. Janet Lloyd of the Fiji Visitors' Bure[?] when they arrived in Suva from California "Orcades" on February 25. —Fiji PR[?]