The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-06-06
WHAT IS GOING ON IN TIE
SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS

e IVA, Fiji. May 2l.-On arrival of
the r. NJ. $. Mowera from sgd
ney the passengers who were des
tined for Suva were landed at the quar-
antine depot at Naikorokoro, to termi-
nate their ten days quarantine from
the time they left Sydney. A passenger
who happened to board the ship at
Brisbane was detained a day longer.
This is one of many foolish arrange
ments Of quarantine now existing here.
FIJI SOCIETY.
We have been so very gay for two
weeks past that all thought has been
imposslble-if one is ever supposed to
think. Since the arrival of the cable
steamer Anglia. dinners, luncheons,
dances and ping-pong have been the
order OF the time. The citizens ball
on Friday, the 18th, was without doubt
the most successful ball of the year.
The schoolroom was given for the oc-
casion and the weather was propitious,
while the committee in command were
as happily selected as usual. A special
table for refreshments was reserved
for the administrator and party, where
Nectar and Ambrosia' were supposed
- ScINtu, but tHe IIldIlud lOT the
common herd was dainty. varied and
delightful enough to tempt the most
jaded appetite. A list of the guests
would be exhaustive. and you can jus.
depend that all Suva was present In
it's best attire
EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.
A correspondent writing from Lau-
toka states that a severe shock of
earthquake occurred there on Wednes-
day, April 80. extending over many sec
onds. The "shake up" appeared to be
from north to south. Another intima-
ton from the same quarter is to the
effect that the rainy season is an I'M
usually prolonged one for the district,
and that while the crops are benefited
thereby, a great deal of inconvenience
is experienced by residents from this
cause.
A BANANA DISEASE.
The Fiji Times prints the following
! letter:
| Sir: With your permission l would
| like, through the columns of your pa
! per- to address a few words to my fell
low colonists, upon subject which 10
of violent Importance to us all, non
planters, as well as planters. / refer II
the disease which has devastated our
btnana plantations.
| The writer remembers some fifteen
years ago, when the banana groves on
! the lower Rewa We're a sight worth go-
| ing many miles to behold until they
were attacked by that fell destroyer
disease.
Our cane fields We're also attacked
about that time with malady which
! / ha1iaVa N ha N mi
liar to that which played havoc with
the bananas, and for a time, cane
planters We're much concerned as to
what was to be the outcome of it, 1t
! looked very black indeed for them I
have seen whole fields OF cane destroy
ed by disease, ploughed out and re-
planted. Compare that with the pres
ent healthy state Of our fields, which
are now, with very few exceptions,
almost free from disease, and the ques-
ton forces itself upon us. why it 10 not
so with banana plantations? There
must be some reason.
Possibly the banana is a more deli
cately constituted plant that sugar
cane. and SO cannot so readily with
stand the ravages Of disease; / do not
think, however, that that accounts for
it; because the majority of the canes
imported here of late years will not
withs tand the disease, but become
more or less affected; it is chiefly the
old varieties that have been in the
country for many years that are prac-
tically immune.
! The reason of this, / think, can be
traced to the fact that planters had
no where else to turn for healthy
plants but to their own disease-stricken
fields, from which they picked what
ever healthy plants they could find.
The fact of their remaining healthy
amongst disease, was proof that they