Apolosi Returns
pp. 19-20 · Read in the full issue
Memories Of Remarkable Fiji Man
M EMORIES of an interesting incident of Fijian history were revived in March when Apolosi Nawai, a Fijian native of unusual character and ability, returned to Suva from the island of Rotuma, to which place he was exiled 10 years ago.
About 20 years ago, Apolosi organised and registered the Viti Company, a co operative concern which was designed to carry out buying and selling on be half of natives, who became members of the company. The plan had much to commend it, but it collapsed, because Apolosi and his immediate associates
could not be trusted with large sums of money and because, instead of attending to business, they frequently went out on a carousal and were very arrogant towards those who tried to save the enterprise.
Apolosi fell foul of the law in certain directions and finally, in a sensational affair in the Yasawa Group, where an ugly temper was shown and bloodshed narrowly avoided, Apolosi and about 60 others were arrested and sent to gaol.
Apolosi, on this occasion, received only a few months’ gaol; but, soon after his release, he again got into serious trouble, and this time he was deported to Rot uma for some six or seven years. When that term was over he returned to Fiji; but, within a short time, he again fell foul of the law, and he then was ban
ished to Rotuma Island for 10 years.
As evidence of his extraordinary in fluence among the natives, and their memory of him after all these years, a large crowd of Fijians gathered at the King’s Wharf, in Suva, when the “Mata fele” arrived there on March 13, to greet the returned man. However, it was discovered that he left the “Mata fele” at Levuka, and came on to Suva by a private vehicle, and thus escaped the crowd.
The remarkable story of Apolosi Na wai was published in the “P.1.M.” in March, 1939, and July, 1939.
Mrs, Glover, who conducted the Casino Hotel (non-license) at Apia, Western Samoa, for several years, is now living privately in Apia with her son, Mr.
P. W. Glover. The hotel is under new management.