Tourists Aiong Th Hibiscus Path

They Hope to Lure

From stuart inder, in Fiji xt- , Fiji s newest stretch of road the Hibiscus Highway has not one hibiscus growing on any part of it yet. But the . • , c 1 4. ? n government is hopeful that it will.

mHIS despite the predictions of JL old-timers who consider that any hibiscus which is not smothered by creepers will be eaten by cattle, or vice-versa.

But having spent a pleasant day on the highway a few days before it was officially opened on July 18, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and all, I cannot see that it matters much if any hibiscus ever grow on it.

It is an attractive road as it is, without fighting to make it live up to a name picked at random.

It was put through to open up copra areas which previously were accessible only by boat (or a rough track in dry weather).

But with the right kind of pro motion, there is no reason why the Hibiscus Highway shouldn’t be made another tourist attraction for Vanua Levu —the island that already has some of the prettiest scenery in Fiji.

The new highway, built of de composed coral limestone that shows white even in the moonlight, runs to Buca Bay, in Vanua Levu’s north-east, and connects with an existing road to Savusavu, in the south.

Visit Savu Savu—Just for

the Ride

It is part of a good 44 mile stretch which runs from Savusavu to Loa, on Buca Bay. And when a bridge is completed at Buca by early next year, the road will run for 64 miles—and be worth a visit to Savusavu, just for the ride.

The road skirts along coral shores, as the travel books would have it, and occasionally dives inland through thick forest, and acres of bamboo. At some places there are extensive panoramic views of nearby Taveuni, and even Rabi Island in the distance.

The coral road surface, which required nothing but rolling, was found in two big natural deposits on nearby Vunilagi Estate. One deposit is now almost finished but the other hasn’t been started yet.

The Public Works Department in Fiji has taken four years on this highway, but the time spent has been worth it. It has made no compromises with expediency—com promises which in the normal course of events, would have to be resolved again later.

There are long stretches of straight, and good banked curves.

One cutting is 47 ft deep.

At another spot, the road builders diverted a creek and then lifted it into a new course six feet higher. They also drained an

extensive swamp and put in four good bridges.

Bulldozer in the Burial Ground At one place, the road goes directly through an ancient Fijian burial ground—a matter which was of some concern to the Fijian road workers, who didn’t feel like bring ing any taboos down on their heads.

PWD road boss, Mr. Mervyn Dellar, fixed that by agreeing to drive the first bulldozer through himself —and then everybody was happy. (The Fijians are reported to be worried about that second coral deposit, too, in case that turns out to be something special, but it will probably be resolved the same way.) One Armco tube culvert on the

Top: Part of the new highway. photographed from the top of a 47-ft. cutting. LOWER: The biggest culvert in Fiji.

highway is 15 ft in diameter —the largest in Fiji. And the bridge near Loa will be one of the longest, with six 40 ft steel spans.

Tourists Welcome

Vanua Levu people who have seen the road—and there are many who haven’t —are pretty proud of it.

who would object to sharing their joys with visitors, particularly tourists anxious to see the “real Fiji’.

But until somebody gets on with that promotion work, the only people likely to appreciate tourist starved Vanua Levu’s new Hibiscus Highway are a handful of local planters and Fijians—and perhaps a few stray cattle hopefully sniffing

They are not the kind of people around for a hibiscus.

“Hey, You — Scram!”

When the pride of the Royal Australian Navy, the Aircraft- Carrier “Melbourne”, visited Suva in mid-July, the Navy declared open-ship and invited all interested aboard to inspect. But the Navy wasn’t prepared for the Suva brand of enthusiasm. Every Kid in the place, and some who were no longer kids, attacked the Carrier like a boar ding-party. The officer shown here is trying to repel a small invader who is in too much of a hurry to use the gangway, while a worried rating apparently thinks about the peace and guiet of Wooloomooloo. Finally the police were called to dampen the enthusiasm with the fire hose.

Photo: Santa Singh, of Stinsons.