New Governor Of

Fiji

Ceremonies of Welcome

THE new Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Sir Leslie Brian Freeston, accompanied by Lady Freeston and their young daughter, arrived in Suva on the “Matua” on Tuesday, January 20. He was given the warm and colourful greet ing that is customary on the arrival of the Colony’s newly appointed chief ex ecutive.

The “Matua” was greeted with a salute of 17 guns as it came alongside the wharf and a large party of officials and leading residents led by the Acting Governor and Colonial Secretary (Mr. J.

F. Nicoll) immediately met the Vice- Regal Party. A guard of honour was provided by the Fiji Police Force and the band of the Fiji Military Forces.

That afternoon His Excellency was sworn in at the Legislative Council Chambers, and replied to a formal ad dress of welcome.

As usual, the arrival and inauguration of the new Governor was attended by picturesque native ceremonies.

At Nasova, on January 22, His Excel lency was greeted by a laka laka, per formed by the people of the Lau group, and was presented with a tabua and the ceremonial yaqona root.

In acknowledging the native welcome, Sir Brian said that just before leaving London he had been granted an audience by the King, who made it clear that he took great interest in the welfare of the Fijian people, and was appreciative of their loyalty and good service.

The Polio Epidemic

JUST at the time when the Governor arrived, Fiji authorities were re laxing the very stringent quarantine regulations which they had imposed to keep the NZ infantile paralysis epidemic out of the Colony. No restriction was placed upon the entry of the Governor’s daughter, although she is under 19 years of age; and members of the “Matua’s”

Company were given limited facilities for going ashore, of which they took full advantage.

A section of Suva residents made a nrotest against this relaxation of quaran tine and declared it had been arranged for the convenience of the new governor.

Officialdom ignored the protest.

It seems clear that, while there is a danger of this disease becoming an epi demic in temperate countries, there is not need for the same strict precautions in tropical countries; and this is being more generally recognised.

Visit To Solomons

SIR BRIAN FREESTON arrived at Honiara, Administrative Head quarters of the British Solomon Is lands, on February 9 on a brief visit.