Knighthood to Fiji's

Birthday Honours

Knighthood to Fiji's Governor

Governor a. w. g. h. grantham, of Fiji, received a knighthood in the June birthday honours. He thus becomes Sir Alexander Grantham. This has been expected since he arrived in the Colony at the beginning of the year from Nigeria, where he was Colonial Secretary.

It is customary for Fiji’s Governor to be a Knight.

Other Birthday Honours went to Mr.

R. C. Farquhar, of Suva, who received the Imperial Service Order; and to Adi Maraia Vosawale, who received the MBE Mr. Farquhar has been attached to the Wireless Section of the Post and Tele graph since 1911, except for a period of eight years when he was on loan to Amalgamated Wireless . (Australasia), Limited. He did valuable work early in the war in organising communications be tween certain of the Pacific Islands. His retirement was announced recently.

Adi Maraia, who is the wife of Lieut.- Colonel Ratu J. L. V. Sukuna, is the first Fijian lady to be honoured by the King. Adi Maraia has been a notable figure among war workers in the Colony, Her active leadership has been a big fac tor in Fijian women’s war activities. She was one of the organisers and is still one of the tutors in the Fijian branch of the Knitting and Sewing Circle, a branch which has turned out nearly 1,000 pairs of socks as well as many pullovers and scarves for men in the armed forces. The popular canteen in Suva for Fijians on leave is staffed by volunteers, the organi sation and supervision of whom falls very largely on Adi Maraia’s shoulders.

Sir Alexander Grantham photographed on his Arrival in Fiji.