travel

Floating Hotel” cheme For arotonga

From a Rarotonga Correspondent

Captain Hugh C. Williams,

ho from 1951 to 1961 traded the Cook Islands and suc ssively owned the Brixham

iwler Inspire, MV Melva,

obiri and Apanui, visited Raro

nga in July from New Zealand,

interest the Cook Islands Gov nment in a scheme for a “float -2 tourist hotel” for Rarotonga. [IS plan has been favourably re ceived by Polynesian Airways d. in Western Samoa, and it is derstood that the Government here o considers it a good idea.

The “floating hotel” would be the V Havanah . a good seaboat of 4 tons, fitted out for luxury cruis ; in Australian waters. Captain lliams bought her recently and she w lies in Queensland’s Brisbane /er.

If he reaches agreement with the ivernment, Captain Williams will 1 the Havanah to Rarotonga and lor her at Avatiu harbour, where s will accommodate up to 30.

Rarotonga’s only hotel, which has ;n described as a boarding house public servants, is usually full 1 cannot cope with an influx of irists. A proposed tourist hotel is 1 in the talking stage, but Captain lliams’ ship is ready now to help the gap. 3 AL is supporting him because airline knows that lack of hotel ommodation in Rarotonga is re ding the tourist trade, fhe Havanah has 11 two-berth and ) four-berth luxury cabins, com te with handbasins and hot and d water. There are hot and cold ;er showers also on board, fhirty guests can be fed at a ?le sitting in the saloon, which has >arquet dance floor, a small bar, ; vision and a hi-fi stereogram. ;re would be a speedboat to tow ;er skiers on Muri lagoon.

Tie Havanah would initially re in in Avatiu harbour for two rs before going to Tahiti for slip g.