The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-09-03
FIJI TEA ESTATE
Scientist GIpDy Writes an In
t8TGSti1g Letter.
HE MAKES APPEAL TO HAWAII
Natives of the South are Dying
Out - a Colony Twenty-Five
Years OId-War Comment.

! MR.. EDITOR:-I am at present
stopping at the Wainunu Tea Estate in
Vanua Levu and this gives me an OPP
portunity of referring TO the tea indus
try Of Fiji The cultivation of tea in
this British colony has been hamper
ed by very serious difficulties which in
the case of one estate proved insur-
mountable and it was in consequence
closed. The other surviving estate lies
at Wainunu, and it has long been go
ing through troubled waters. The OBJ
stacles, however, are not connected
with the growth of the plant. which
thrives wonderfully well, nor with the
quality of the tea, since the testimony
in its favor is abundant They are
concerned with the difficulty and cost
of procuring labor, and with the limit
ed market which the colony offers for
the lucrative disposal of its own teas.
The white population of FIJI has not
increased since the islands were annex
ed nearly a quarter of a century ago,
and its consumption OF tea would in
itself barely keep the local industry
above water. Secure in their supplies of
Indian and CeylOn teas, the Australian
merchants have not facilitated the sale
of the F'ijian article; and thus tea Gull |
tivatiOn has been for years leading a |
existence in this colony. /
Tor Gov. ],
terprise displayed by Captain Robbie of /
Levuka and by Mr.. G. Barratt, the |
of the estate, the undertaking |
would have been abandoned long ago. /
Hawaii, as | apprehend, is now a part
OF the Great Republic | wonder
in the moment of her triumph,
she would extend a hand to this Strug-
Cling little group, by making Fijian
teas more widely known not only
her own people but also in
America.
| have been spending much time in
he mountains geOlOgizing and bOtan-
zing. Most of the interior of this ISL
and is in its primevaI condition, al
most all the natives living at the coast
Travel is accordingly beset with many
difficulties, and it is more difficult to
limb the mountains, which are not
over 1000 feet high than it is to ac-
Omplish the ascent of Mauna LOa One
s always being scOrched up or baked
through. A dozen times in the day one
las to wade or swim across swollen
iverS, and the Wretched bush-paths are
ften nearly Obliterated on account of
he dying out of the people. Apart
OWeVer from such matters it is inter
sting to note that the unfortunate
fjian is in many ways being assisted {
n ND
here are signs, however, that the Gov
rnOr is quite prepared 10 act in some
ecisive way when the opportunity
ferS. He is hampered by native
Olicy not Of his own creation, a policy
7hich after a duration of nearly a
uartRr Of a century is resulting in the
xtinction of the abOrigines and in the \
ecrease of the white pouIatiOn. The /
ystem Of Harvesting white men and
atives together in the local govern
lent of the islands is l am glad to
ear about to break down. Many Of
ne most important ordinances direc-
ed to preserving the aboriginal race
ave long been practically in allegiance
he white magistrate is terribly handi-
3ppad by the relatively Independent
OsitiOn which the ROko or Governor
his province occupies. He can only
Iggest things to him, but the ROkO
ereIy promises and there everything
lds.
The war of course in the absorbing
)pic down her; and in common with
her Englishmen 1 cannot help think =
lg that England will benefit by the
access of American arms almost as .
uch as the citizens of the United Y
-ates. The use of might on the side
right has not been of too frequent a.
ecurrence in the worlds history
can the exercise Of might without
le Interior object of self-aggrandize-
ent. It would be a grand thing if
merica could give the world an al Il
uistic lesson and introduce a new -
hical code for the nations. The alb
)rption of the Philippines would
enture to think rather spoil the object
ssOn. To convert the heathens to
and their lands to his own
ses has been too often John Bulls
ethOd of procedure. [ have employed
ere the language of recent critic of a
ngIand and her colonies. Let us hope p1
lat the United States of America will
augurate another policy altogether.
H. B. GUPPY, NJ. B.
Wainunu, Vanua Lew, Fiji, July y,
1913.