The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-12-11
.LECKEMRY IN FLU

MI heCheuDy mas Ueeu uOlHS luS /,
agricultural missionary stunt in Fiji
as he did in Hawaii, according to the
following letter from him in late
issue of the Western Pacific Herald
lsuva);
| Ut is often the case that a person
looking over the shoulder of one play
ing a game of checkers can see adj
vantageous points that parties playing
the game do not observe. Usually he
receives no thanks for his remarks,
even if he can see how to make kings
of men. But when men are playing
the game of Agriculture and his part
ner-Nature-has loaded dice with the
odds against the player, then he well
comes a kindly intended suggestion
| have no axe to grind nor material
in the game you are playing here, ex-
cept that legitimate solicitude that is
proper for all of us to take in each
other. Missionaries have come here
and done things, but there is need to-
day of industrial missionaries, or
there is danger of tagging far behind
the rest of the world in the interpre-
tation of things agricultural. The
glorious psalm of life as sung by
jewellers in happy, beautiful homes, is
mistakenly translated into a dirge and
the people who toll are not in love
with life.
From a close observation and a
large experience in other fields | ven
finn tn hat
portunities going to waste here than
at any other place north of Fiji
This locality might blaze with gor-
geous flowers, supply enticing tooth
some and wonderful tropical fruit that
would invite tourists and ships, as to
feast of good things; might supply
commerce that the world is waiting
for. True, there are other tropical
countries, but regions where these
things will grow on a soil as good as
yours and balmy climate where white
men can live and enjoy work-are
small on the map of the world.
THE destiny Of Fiji is in your keep
ing and of its latent treasures you will
have to give account.
1T must become famous through
the wisdom and energy of it's people,
or be a reproach to you.
- 1T will require a combined effort of
its citizens, if it achieves the proud
distinction of Famous Fiji
"A. B. LECKENBY."
A later issue OF the Herald contains
, the following, which has some inter-
n est for our entomologists:
= Mr.. A. B. Leckenby, a visitor from
Honolulu who proceeded on his voy-
Q age to New Zealand yesterday, took
great interest in this Colony in the
short time at his disposal, and con-
Y siders that as far as climate and soil
. is concerned we have far greater OPP
s portunities and capabilities than Ha-
: waii. He however was much surprised
J. that we were so far behind the Terri
?, tory in agriculture. Mr., Leckenby has
|, made study of plant life and insect
pests, having been for many years in
the service of the United States Gov
: eminent in that department He
warns us that the Fiji Government and
4
and precaution to keep out insect
pests. Already, he pointed out to us,
: we have one serious little pest, the
white fly, which should he says be at
tended to at once, otherwise it will be
a terrible curse. He took our report
a er to garden in Gordon street, not
O 100 yards from this office, and show
a ed us a plant that was attacked by the
O fly On the under side of the leaves
o were hundreds of the little insects
a which were sucking the life out of the
q leaves. During the few days he had
been here he had watched the plant
and noticed the marvellous increase
of the fly The only remedy is fumi-
cation with cyanide; spraying is Of no
> use as the insect simply flies away"
Many people in Honolulu were sorry
o to see Mr. Leckenby go away without
D having made a practical demonstration
a OF his ideas on Hawaiian soil. as he
o had intended but could OF get the
0 land he wanted for the purpose.