Hard And Easy Way
pp. 88-89 · Read in the full issue
Governor Sees The Hard And Easy Way
Photographs by Rob Wright Excited Fijians watched in amazement recently as a jet boat roared up a river in the rugged and isolated interior of the mam Fijian island of Viti Levu.
ON board were the Governor, Sir Kenneth Maddocks, and Lady Maddocks who were making a strenuous four-day tour of the in terior.
Travelling at high speed, the boa skimmed over rapids and narrow!’ avoided rocks and other obstruction in places where the water was onl; three or four inches deep.
The boat was driven by its owner Mr. Jock Baker, of the Royal Suv: Yacht Club. It was chosen becausi it can travel over waters too shallov for other boats.
During their tour, the Governo and Lady Maddocks also travelled oi horseback and on foot over jungh trails in rugged mountainous country It is believed that Lady Maddock, was the first Governor’s wife to uni dertake the journey.
Also in the party were the Comi missioner Central, Mr. H. Halstead! and the Commissioner Western, Mr J. A. C. Hill.
The tour began at Naluwai, ter minus of the Sawani-Sorea Roadl where the Governor and Lady Madl docks boarded Mr. Baker’s boat to travel up the Wainimala River. The remainder of the party followeo slowly in conventional outboard] powered punts.
Branching off at a tributary to the river, the party made their first over night stop at the village of Wairua-j
The |et boat Waibula" skims over the water of a river in the interior of Viti Levu. At the is Mr . Jock Baker Beside him are Sir Kenneth and Lady Maddocks. Levu Seru, a Fijian from Korosuli, acts as pilot. The uniform was his own idea.
Sir Kenneth Maddocks leads his party up a mountain trail after having crossed a stream beyond Nailuva. Behind him are Jack Takala, District Officer, Ra, Lady Maddocks, Mr. Hill, Lieut. Sargent, and Mr. Halstead (watering horse).
Before the morning mists had red, they were off again, this : by horseback on a rough through rugged, mountainous ntry, most of it covered with >e rain forests. t the village of Nubumakita in Nalawa tikini, they were met by District Officer, Ra, Mr. Jack ala, and the Roko Tui Ra, Ratu 0 Komaitai, who accompanied the y for the remainder of the tour, his mountain village was once site of a hospital in the charge of European doctor, but it has long e been transferred to the coast.
L second overnight stop was made Nasau where traditional cere lies of welcome were accorded Governor. .t Nailuva in Saivou tikina, the rernor was impressed with the ini ve and enterprise shown by a ng Fijian, Samu Nabekuru, who formed a club named Suva tors, after a firm of motor en :ers in Suva. : was given this name because it formed of boys who had found lifficult to adjust themselves after dng school, and in Samu’s words, icy were spare parts who, formed \ a whole, were put on the road sound condition.” amu began his work in 1958 with ings of £53 and a little knowledge forestry work. He now has a up of 18 youths who have planted rly 14,000 cocoa trees, 1,400 pine ;s, and 9,000 yaqona, coffee, and er plants. a night spent at Nailuva, the ty pushed on to Namara. From re they visited the Nalaba District 001 before continuing on to otu near Viti Levu Bay. They re tied to Suva by car on the King’s ad. . fhe photographs at right show ae of the scenes during the Cov er's tour.
B TOP: Sir Kenneth Maddocks eives a tabua on arrival at Nasau age in Nalawa tikina. Nasau is a »e village on flat land on the iks of the Korovoh River. It has lispensary and a school. • CENTRE: An early morning ne at Nailuva village. Mist still ts out a view of the countryside, rses are tethered near bures to be hand for an early start. Bamboo terpipes convey water from a small jam to the centre of village. Co lut trees show depredations from noceros beetle. • BOTTOM; A seasea dance is ■formed by the women of Nailuva lage after traditional ceremonies of Icome had been accorded the Gov lor.