The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-09-29
A Friend Of
Hawai- in Fiji
Continued from Page one.)

more white men in Fiji than at pres
emit. Fortunes were made raising sea
island cotton, but with the cessation
of hostilities in America prices went
down. Later the British took posses
sion of the islands and practically con-
fiscated the white mans lands and
turned them back to the natives. The
Governor, Sir e. i'm Thurn, told me
yesterday, however, that he IS ar
ranging for an equitable requirement
of native lands by the white man and
that splendid opportunities are begin
ming to open up. Cotton is being
planted once more. Mr.. Gus Hem
nings, who is one of the big copra
planters, can give you much infor-
nation about Fiji on his arrival, in
TRIES SURF RIDING,
On Taviuni Island / met four of the
Douglas brothers, cattle breeders and
copra planters. I was thrown with
them for half a day, as insisted that
at the end of their island there were
natives who operated the surf-board-
so we rode to the end of the island
in with the natives, they using tiny
stray pieces of wood and / the part
of a canoe, intending to astonish the
natives with a standing stunt" The
less said the better. however. The I'M
dertow carried me over the reef, and
when I did get back the waves rolled
me on the coral. Surf-boarding is not
for the white man in Fiji. The ma
tives merely hold a small board in
their hands to guide them in, and
have never heard of anyone standing
on the board. The Douglases were en-
chanted with the sport-but they have
not yet visited Waikiki.
One of the brothers took me through
his cocoanut grove. explaining the
needs of the trees, ETC.. and asking
about conditions in Hawaii. The re-
suit of our conversation was that he
would like to investigate for himself
in Hawaii, and 1 hope he will. From
the limited description could give of
the condition Of the trees in the Kona
district, 1t seems that it may pay to
plant cocoanuts there. AT present
copra brings $40 ton in the London
market, usually netting the Fiji plant
a ton. 1t takes five to seven years to /
secure yielding trees, but at the end |
of the third year cattle are grazed /
among the trees to keep down the !
weeds and grass. Mr.. Douglas showed
me the sensitive grass growing in his |
groves, which he states is the finest |
cattle and horse food and fodder any,
where. 1t grows in rank profusion, /
killing off other weeds and providing
excellent grazing. He is sending seeds |
to Hawaii. The Governor of Fiji tells |!
me that in Ceylon Che was Governor
there for five years. this grass is
dreaded as a pest, yet his cattle in Fiji
thrive on it. I trust Mr.. Douglas will
pay his proposed visit to Honolulu and
that he will look over the lands be-
yond the Pail. They should raise good
eocoanuts and sensitive grass, pro-
viding a good grazing and copra coun-
try. 1 took the liberty Of telling Mr..
Douglas that if he could show the Ha-
waiian people that he or they could
raise cocoanuts lucratively on our is
lands, men of means or land would
meet him half way in any effort he
might put forth, and that the Terri
toriaI government would doubtless IA
cilitate his efforts.