The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-06-05

so with banana plantations? There
must be some reason.
Possibly the banana Is a more deli
cateiy constituted plant that sugar
cane. and so cannot so readily with
stand the ravages OF disease: / do not
think. however. that that accounts for
II; because the majority OF the canes
imported here OF late years will not
Withstand the disease. but become
more or less affected: IL is chiefly the
| old varieties that have been in the
| country for many years that are prac-
| rically immune.
The reason OF this, I think. can be
traced to the fact that planters had
plants but to their own characterization
/ fields. from which they picked what
ever healthy plants they could find.
The fact OF their remaining healthy
amongst disease. was proof that they
were constitutionally stronger than
/ their neighbors; and so. in n few
years. IL came about that the present
disease resisting stock were raised.
/ am OF opinion that a healthy stock
I OF bananas could be raised in a few
years time by the same process. l. G.,
. the selection OF healthy plants from
diseased fields. not young fields. but
fields. say. about three years old 1t
would OF course be very important to
see that the whole stool from which
the selection is made is perfectly
FARMER.
a BLACK PATCH.
Mr.. Seldom holds that Australia could
not embrace Fiji in the Commonwealth,
because 4 would make a black patch
on the escutcheon OF a white Australia
But because New Zealand has the
Maoris ever with her. that tri-Insular
colony could we'll assimilate the South
Sea island natives In a federation with
out mourning the stigma OF inconsist-
ency or incongruiry. Mr.. Barton does
not agree with the oversee" Premier.
lie does not think that what Mr.. Sed-
don says entirely disposes OF the ques-
ton. New Zealand has the MaoriS."
he states. ''just as We have the abor-
iginss. with whom We have to deal as
the original roccupiers OF the land, even
IL they were ten or twenty times as
many. The fact that New Zealand has
Maoris does not affect the marrow OF
the question. which is one not OF abor-
iginals but OF immigration. III that is
denied. then 10 Is n matter OF the inter
nal management Of the Fills. which
cannot nave much relation to the ex-
istence CT the Maoris in New Zealand
So / do not think the Maori question
affects :he future OF Fiji at Gll."-Syd-
nsy Morning Herald.
FREAK PEARLS.
The extraordinary pearl. or rather.
cluster OF pearls. known as the south
markable OF its kind that Nature has
ever produced. So far as 10 known IL
occupies an absolutely unique position.
II consists OF nine pearls, naturally
grown together in so regular manner
as TO form an absolutely Latin cross.
The pearl was discovered by a man
named Clark. while pearl fishing at
Roebourne. in Western Australia, in
the schooner Ethel. the owner being a
Roman Catholic called skinner KEEL
w" When the shell was opened both
men were filed with amazement and
awe. Kelly regarding IL as some heav-
en-wrought miracle. buried the pearl,
but "a vas re-discovered in 1874. and
FIVE years later was on exhibition at
Roebourne The pearl has changed
hands many times and each time II has
done so the person parting with II mas
BY a syndicate OF Australian gentle
men. who value il at 10000.
AUSTRALIANS SANITARIUM-
OF all the picturesque islands of the |
South Pacific, there is not one that eX-
ceeds Ovaiau in beauty. The wonder
fui combination Of tropical wealth. OF
vegetation. the feathery palms, varie- |
gated foliage, and brilliant hue OF nov
ers is thrown the more into prominence
by the stern basaltic cliffs and peaks /
and an ideally picturesque landscape.
from what side soever we view IT. u
The result. We have heard more thah
one passing traveller remark that the
first view OF LevuSa and its pictur-
asque background revived Paul ana
virginia In the mind. not merely as
raul.u!scence. but seemingly. actual!y
as "a realization Levuka has only TO 1
b., more widely known 10 be better ap-
u-eciated more especially as its eli
DTata certainly from April 70 October, A.,
Is the most perfect in the South PACING,
and no other island can compare with