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What the Papers Say

(Abridged from the “Otago Daily Times.”)

The idea of photography has certainly not hitherto been associated with the South Sea Islands, but the recent cruises of the “Wairarapa” have changed that, and the untravelled public of New Zealand will now have an opportunity of acquiring the same distant acquaintance with Fiji and the more remote islands that they have already acquired with the lake and mountain scenery of our own Colony. Mr. Barton, who for years past has been so busy in the latter districts, has lately been just as busy in the South Seas. He was a member of both the “Wairarapa” excursion parties, and the result of his labours is now published in the shape of a series of 230 photographic views, taken wherever the vessel touched on either trip. That they are a most curious and interesting addition to Mr. Burton's already large collection of landscape photographs is unquestionable. Nothing can picture strange scenes so faithfully and effectively as the camera, and anyone viewing this series, for instance, will acquire a far more exact and familiar knowledge of Levuka, Taviuni, Samoa, Vavau, 'c. than after reading pages of graphically-written description. He will form a truer idea of the wild luxuriance of tropical verdure; of the scenery, beautiful, but little varying; and of the different native races that live and labour together on some of these islands.

The Wairarapa's “Innocents Abroad”—or a great many of them—figure often enough in Mr. Burton's negatives. Very cool and comfortable they look in loose white raiment, arined with the natural defensive weapons of the tropical tourist—the helmet and the umbrella. Very strange, too, does it seem to see European ladies and gentlemen standing complacently side by side with the dusky sons and daughters of the soil. The latter are habited in their own distinctive fashion—a fashion with which both they and their visitors appear to be perfectly content. Next in order come views of Suva itself. First, the main street of the town, edged with neat wooden buildings—the latter chiefly remarkable for the broad, roomy verandahs, which seem indispensable. It is strange to see in another picture a modest little structure in a group of cocoanut trees decorated with the familiar title, ‘Union Bank of Australia.” Government House is a fine building within view of the town, and is photographed from a point which gives a good idea of its position and surroundings. In some of the scenes in the neighbourhood of Suva we are irresistibly convinced of what is meant by the “feathery palm.” In many of the best photographs of his series Mr. Burton has been singularly happy in reproducing minutely the delicate foliage of this tree. Ever present as it is in these latitudes, it figures in the foreground of numbers of views and gives tone and character page 7 to the picture. Not unfrequently the gigantic proportions of the tree are emphasised by the small, black figure of a native who has ascended the slender trunk, and is just clutching the lowest branches in his search for cocoanuts. The bread-fruit tree is seen in a few of the views of Fijian villages, and the banyan tree also with its enormous spreading leaves. For an idea of the denseness of tropical undergrowth, and the numberless varieties of foliage it presents, reference need only be made to the photographs taken in the botanical gardens, Suva.

Crossing over to Levuka, Mr. Burton has found many inviting subjects. Apart from landscape photography, we have the heir to the title of Thakambau, taken in state upon the steamer's deck, and later on a view of that dignitary's canoe, a “twin-ship” built roughly upon the plan of the celebrated channel steamer. Some comprehensive views of the town have been taken from the jetty; and as regards the surrounding scenery, it at once strikes the eye as being more rugged than that of Suva. One of the most interesting negatives is that of the famous pool of Commodore Goodenough, a shady, cool, little sheet of water nestling in a picturesque hollow, and almost buried beneath overhanging foliage. Among the several out-of-the-way effects secured by Mr. Burton is one in which he shows to perfection the action of the wind upon the palm foliage. It is impossible in such a comprehensive series to speak in detail of many individual views.

At Taviuni some singularly pretty scenes have been reproduced, and passing on to Mango, one of the most striking of the collection is a broad view of the lagoon, lying white and calm in the sunlight, and in the far background the narrow clean-out entrance in the rocks, which forms its only communication with the sea. In this locality Mr. Burton has taken his camera among the sugar-fields, and shown the various stages of this industry. One hillside is seen thickly dotted over with the bending figures of the workers cutting the cane. It is also shown in process of loading, and there is a view of a field in which the young cane is growing. A picturesque study is that of a group of natives upon the summit of a rock, watching the “Wairarapa” as she is preparing to steam away.

After leaving Fiji, Samoa was the next halting-place, and here again good views of Apia have been obtained from seaward. A number of interesting interiors are shown, and in almost all the pictures Mr. Burton has individual natives or groups in his foreground. Whether they clearly understood the process of photography or not, they seem to have been singularly willing to lend it their passive assistance. There are numbers of beautiful lanes in the neighbourhood of Apia, and the scenery is plentifully enriched by bread-fruit trees and bananas.

At Pango Pango there is evidently less civilisation than at any of the previous places visited; and a view of the harbour, in which no cocoanut trees and no natives appear, shows a remarkable resemblance to the scenery of our New Zealand Sounds.

Nukualofa and Tongatabu have each furnished a pretty series of views, and Mr. Burton's artistic perceptions have led him to make friends with several of the Tongan beauties, and photograph them in variously arranged groups. Space does not permit us to particularise all, or a tenth part of the scenes that are presented. Mr Burton has page 8 found plenty of new and inviting material to his hand, and he has made the most of it with the time at his disposal. The composition of all the pictures is strikingly good, and even in those which display least technical merit there will be found much to please and interest.

(From the Dunedin “Evening Star.”)

The two pleasure-trips of the “Wairarapa” to the Fijian, Samoan, and Friendly groups of islands have brought us into closer relationship with our neighbours. Probably every newspaper in the Australasian colonies has given to its readers more or less circumstantial narratives of the doings of the tourists, the scenery they gased upon, the people who live on the islands, and a few remarks regarding their appearance, manners, and customs. But words cannot do all that is needed; just as Euclid's theorems would be difficult to demonstrate without diagrams, because the eye is of the greatest possible assistance to the mind in forming a correct image of the things reasoned about. The clearest narratives and descriptions are better understood by the aid of pictorial representations. The various excellent reports furnished to the Press by its representatives have received an added value through the labours of Mr. Burton, of the firm of Burton Bros. Fortunately, he was one of the tourists, and availed himself of the opportunity of the “Wairarapa's” trips to add to his already rich collection of photos of colonial scenery a long series of views, numbering over 200, exclusive of groups of natives, which will much increase the pleasure of re-reading the accounts of the voyages. We have always found much pleasure in examining Mr. Burton's photos. They are not crude outlines filled in with shadow, leaving more to be guessed at than is seen. They possess the life and beauty of highly-finished engravings. There is in them that clearness of definition, combined with beautiful aërial perspective, which forms the charm of a true picture. All the various groups of figures by which some of the events of the voyage are illustrated, and through which the every-day life of the people of islands is detailed, are artistically arranged. Each face is a portrait, and many little incidents are stamped with reality that necessarily escaped the pen of the reporters. The points of view from which the scenes are taken seem well chosen, and Mr. Burton appears to have been singularly successful in selecting favourable illustrations of the flora which flourish in such rich abundance in those tropical islands. This series, therefore, is useful as an aid to science, as well as a memento of the voyage.