Fiji hurricane

[Richard Quartermaine]

Peter, There are some characters that were missed by Somerset Maugham. Here are some photos I took nearly twenty years after my sailing days. Iririki Island was the British Compound (usually the colonial admin had compounds - we did in Fiji) Have a few incidents which I will add later and as for the crab, I think that could possibly have been a coconut crab. They climb the coconut palm and nip of the coconut, climb down and tear it apart to eat. Regards Richard (and I'd love to be going on that cruise.)

[happy daze john in oz]

Only been to Fiji once back at the end of 2012. On a tour one day and got talking with the guise about Fiji and politics. I asked him what ever happened to Sitavani Rambuka, Timothy Bavandra and the two Rati, hope the spelling is OK, all involved in the attempted coup way back. He was quite astonished that anyone outside of Fiji would be interested or even remember the names. One he told me is on an island prison and will never be released, George was his name, forget the surname.

[Peter F Chard]

Hi Richard, The mention of Iririki Island has jogged my memory cells- many moons ago a friend of mine who is a ship broker was given a commission by a New Zealand contractor to find a barge that would carry a D5 Caterpillar plus about 600 tonnes of roading metal plus a tug to tow such a combination. They had heard that there was a prospect at Iririki. The contractor had secured a contract to build three airstrips on Pentecost Island. I was hired to be the expert on the floating plant needed for such a job. We caught the ferry at Iririki and took about a three minute trip to the island. We met our contact from the owner, a tiny ( about 1.2m tall and about the same girth )man. He was a local but had a very long German name. We had to walk from one end of the island to the other to view this barge and tug -- both were too small for what we wanted so we contacted the principal who simply said ' that's OK -- shoot across to Fiji, there is something which looks promising in Lautoka. We hit the jackpot in Lautoka, a 60 m long dumb barge built by the Americans during WW2 and a nearly new twin screw tug, built in Brisbane -- I think we got the lot for $60000 NZ. At this stage I was getting worried that the principal contractor would baulk at the size of the bill, but no. He said " Great work guys -- your cheque is in the mail " Regards Peter in NZ.

[Evan Lewis]

Evan, it took two cruises to get to Mystery island, no go first one due to very bad seas. You did not miss much as it is little more than a very large sand island that you can walk around in 20 minutes.

I have read the Google site RE RC and find it is directly opposite to what most of the crew will tell you. I spend a lot of time when on a cruise talking with as many of the crew as I can, most are very willing to talk. No one has ever told me the pay or conditions are bad. Crew accommodation now is way ahead of anything we knew, they have a full bar, gym facilities, meals to suit all cultures etc. It does vary a little from company to company but basically there is not a lot of difference. I have spoken with waiters who have been with the company for more than ten years and have earned enough to but a house, get private medical and put kids through uni. Many say that they could never do this if they stayed at home as jobs pay very poor. No doubt there is a lot of propaganda involved but if it is so bad why do they stay? One bar waiter told me last year, yes Princess only pay him $50 per month but he gets about $1 for every drink he serves, averaging up to 100 pert day. So who does one believe, that is I guess up to the individual.

John ,

When I said earlier ,I accessed Google, Finally found the pages, re. Wages and conditions..And believe me ,its pretty positive

Due to my concern. As right up to leaving that morning,Disembarkation,was between 7.a.m ans about 11.am. depending , hand -carry,which was Us, Early exit. So was Home,well within three hrs.

.Knowing the Vessel, was Re.- embarking within Hrs. for a 4.P.M. Sailing.

Had a look at the computer,to Check -out if there was any Info ,re their Practices.

One of the first Posts ,I read, by a recently former passenger, Starts ,"Just come off (Same ship)This Morning .Uncanny.

Goes on to describe, his observations. Took the words ,out of my mouth, (You could Say) (Actually His Trip was some time previous .)Another ,from a lady, ,who by the date ,may well have Posted it ,whilst on Board the same time as us.

Any one who wishes, are invited to access this Site.The literally hundreds of comments,bear out the Treatment endured, by the ones ,who "Daren't speak out "for reasons that will become obvious .Such as the many thous. of dollars. these impoverished Peoples,Pay in their respective Country .to the Agents , More than Usually only possible ,by other family Ex Pats. contributing, to get them the Job.Their object is to firstly .Pay off the sacrificed investment , Then eventually ,perhaps enable another family member,

Your line ,Why do they Stay? Think the answers ,Obvious.

Many don't. As they no longer can Cope . (With the ultimate result]

,being Breakdown or worse.

Our Stwd. literally ran there and Back ,in panic. Had only opened the Door One of the dreaded, Supervisors ,was in the cross Alleway. "Sir" .? " just looking for some Soap" I replied" He then shouted the name of our great Stwd, who was in some other part of his Section.( They each have Sixteen Cabins, to care for,including Daily Linen and Towel changes.)

Any ex B.R's out there ,tell me what was the norm, on C.P.R. P'&O,Cunard, Royal Mail U.C. L .

etc? .

I'm not writing this ,other than for my concern for these poor souls

And after witnessing .first hand, Realisng they " Can't Speak for themselves." As a fellow Merchant Mariner, feel it a duty .To let the general public know

Thanks All for, for Your time

.

[Richard Quartermaine]

Hi Peter, here are a couple of photos of Port Vila in the 1970s when I included the article for my retires 'Spotlight' by our first resident manager there. Mentioning Lautoka, my sister and her husband went to Lautoka in the late 1940s (with CSR) and bought the 'Seaspray' in the 60s and built up to eleven vessels working out of Nadi as South Sea Island Cruises. My nephew Michael Pettitt was the MD and when they sold out quite some time ago he carried on with Imported Marine Accessories (Fiji) Ltd, Nadi. He is a 6'6'' - (former, now grey!) red head and a great guy, sold out a few years ago now and has come to Australia where my widowed sister now lives and she is absolutely delighted. Regards, Richard.

[happy daze john in oz]

John ,

When I said earlier ,I accessed Google, Finally found the pages, re. Wages and conditions..And believe me ,its pretty positive

Due to my concern. As right up to leaving that morning,Disembarkation,was between 7.a.m ans about 11.am. depending , hand -carry,which was Us, Early exit. So was Home,well within three hrs.

.Knowing the Vessel, was Re.- embarking within Hrs. for a 4.P.M. Sailing.

Had a look at the computer,to Check -out if there was any Info ,re their Practices.

One of the first Posts ,I read, by a recently former passenger, Starts ,"Just come off (Same ship)This Morning .Uncanny.

Goes on to describe, his observations. Took the words ,out of my mouth, (You could Say) (Actually His Trip was some time previous .)Another ,from a lady, ,who by the date ,may well have Posted it ,whilst on Board the same time as us.

Any one who wishes, are invited to access this Site.The literally hundreds of comments,bear out the Treatment endured, by the ones ,who "Daren't speak out "for reasons that will become obvious .Such as the many thous. of dollars. these impoverished Peoples,Pay in their respective Country .to the Agents , More than Usually only possible ,by other family Ex Pats. contributing, to get them the Job.Their object is to firstly .Pay off the sacrificed investment , Then eventually ,perhaps enable another family member,

Your line ,Why do they Stay? Think the answers ,Obvious.

Many don't. As they no longer can Cope . (With the ultimate result]

,being Breakdown or worse.

Our Stwd. literally ran there and Back ,in panic. Had only opened the Door One of the dreaded, Supervisors ,was in the cross Alleway. "Sir" .? " just looking for some Soap" I replied" He then shouted the name of our great Stwd, who was in some other part of his Section.( They each have Sixteen Cabins, to care for,including Daily Linen and Towel changes.)

Any ex B.R's out there ,tell me what was the norm, on C.P.R. P'&O,Cunard, Royal Mail U.C. L .

etc? .

I'm not writing this ,other than for my concern for these poor souls

And after witnessing .first hand, Realisng they " Can't Speak for themselves." As a fellow Merchant Mariner, feel it a duty .To let the general public know

Thanks All for, for Your time

.

G'Day Evan and thanks for that. Have done three with RC and most BR's had 17 cabins to do. I guess every crew member has a story, some good some not so good. I do however believe that there is quite a difference between companies as to how they treat the crew. Princess appear to have about 705 Philipino catering crew and a good many on deck. They all appear very satisfied with the situation, either that or they are very good actors. I know most of them tell us they all want to do the runs from Oz as the passengers from there are easy to get on with and even though there are no compulsory gratuities on ships sailing from Oz, and most of us do not tip ashore, the Australians are the best tippers around far better than the yanks it would appear.
Going on one in a few weeks will ask some more questions of the crew.

[Evan Lewis]

Be pleased to know if

Any ex B.R's out there , could tell me what was the norm, on either C.P.R. P'&O, Cunard, Royal Mail U.C. L . Regarding,number of Cabins,in their section. Hrs. of duty . And whether they were paid overtime in excess of eight Hours ?.
-------------------------
Little aside!
The previous Oriana, was based in Sydney ,for many years. Cruising , The Islands

Few names from that era.
The Welsh Wizards.(Group of Cardiff , Tradesmen Tilers ,etc.Engaged in continuing ,Maintenance. Along with Fijian assistants. (incidentally, on its very last Trip ,at Sydney .The evening Tele , featured ,a number of the Fiji lads, being chased along the Quay.By the Polis, . As they Attempted ,'A Runner'


AS,they all had a Theme . Did three of their "South Pacific Ballroom Championships" On Her.

Remember Vic ? The Writer, ("Oor Wully" 2nd. Printer.
John a Q.M. both Tynesiders)
.Went Ashore With Vic. and The Ships Projectionist. One Sunday in Lautoka, the Sugar City ,Bar. . Where usually stayed ,at different times. We had Some interesting Company , for most of the Day, .Had a long and sustained Beer session. We were invited back, to one of the Homes. As planned ,I stayed overnight.Rejoining, next Day at Suva.
Learned then that ,Our Projectionist Friend,had lost his job. The Film was due to start, say 9p.m. By, 10p.m. The audience , were clapping, and singing. ."Why Are We Waiting?) Staff Capt. investigates. Poor old Oppo! "Was out to the World"!
Crew changes were numerous,in that period. And naturally the
airfares were met, by P.O. (even the ,naughty Boys!) your usual popular ,Flight home, was Quantas I. Remember? About 10.p.m. Arriving London, a good A .M. time,next Morning.

[Evan Lewis]

E=Richard Quartermaine;223090]A ferocious Hurricane has just passed over the Fiji Islands after striking Tonga and intensifying as the centre crossed the (Fiji) Lau Group, the southern tip of Taveuni, Savu Savu in the straight between the main Islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, Raki Raki, and Ba, Lautoka and Nadi on the north-west of

Was very fond of Fiji. Richard.Though couldn't pretend to know it .Half as much As You and Your Family,though.
Only went there as a Tourist or visiting Seaman.
Lautoka was where ,I usually ,Kicked-off. from Nadi , a Budget Hotel, the Sugar City Hotel . Other times Coral Coast Sigatoka area.Few different places.
Throwing a few names Yut, you may recall.? The joint in Lautoka. was owned by Subamony. Not sure of the Spelling, but that's how it sounded.He was into everything , Car -Hire ,Better known as a Boxing Promoter.a Brother -in Law Had a bar, at Ba.
Later a daughter .and Son-in Law , had A Club.bar, at Nadi.Upstairs Behind the Main Rd. on left, going towards Suva.
Regulars in the Sugar bar, were police Sgt Major .Simon, and his Sgt. Who ran the Cop -Shop. They One night ,invited me to a ceremony in their Village, Where I stayed ,overnight.
Made a Boo Boo ,by walking in front of the assembled Elders.Admonished ,but soon forgiven. From then on ,Transport was not a problem.Apparently that Tribe, owned all the Land at Lautoka.
A number of them were employed at the Airport, and a Ute was freely available, for their needs. The Police Sgt's brother ,was Sec.of the Waterside Union.
Next morn, in a Ute ,taken to the Wharves, there were at least two Cargo ships alongside. Had to go aboard and be introduced, at each Hatch .
Was Bloated ,returning to the Wharf. As A bucket of Kava was there at each Hatch. And had to go through The necessary, "Bula Bula" Each time. (not being particularly partial to it either). .Another time, by a Fijian , Coral Coast, Hotel employee, taken to another littler Village,where ,met the Chief in his Hut. He wore a Wales .Rugby jersey. More Kava!
Couple . of names, .Still recall, Forget the Hotel now .Geoff Raymond & wife Margaret,(Retired, always immaculate A.B. C. News reader.)He was at the Desk, when I went in .Now just clad ,in Shorts and open -necked Shirt. Gone Native! Often had a brief chat with Margaret, when ,ringing the college office in Melbourne,To speak to her colleague. Called in another time, .Going in a Shared taxi with the Locals, Six, others. She remarked .on coming out to the Taxi, 'Said where are You Sitting!On the Bonnet?
Two other names . Gupal Ali .( Lautoka.)Nice young tempered.Fella.Well liked by The Fijians Very fond of his Beer.Regularly in the Bar, Supping. Sad. Apparently was Chopped to death, with a Machete , by a Native visitor ,from Suva.Apparently.Rising from the Table, to intervene, in a dispute. involving ,A relative, of Subamony.
One other Name ,recently had a discussion with him. on A Local Talk-back .On an other subject.

Former High Court Judge ,Fiji. David Day- Lewis.
P.S.
Could well have been there, during Your Era. ?
Cheers!

Few words re Present day Fiji. Believe the Indian Population. have just about out bred,the native Fijian ?