Fiji News In Brief
pp. 33-34 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Suva, Jan. 29.
A FTER months of hard work in one of t\ Suva’s wettest years, the reclamation work in the Walu Bay area of Suva las been completed and roads and sub iivision work is proceeding. Walu Bay vas a low-lying area just north of the own. A road embankment etc., cut it iff from the sea.
The Director of Lands is calling ipplications for 99-year leases in the area or industrial building—a great boon to Suva industry, which in recent years ound expansion or establishment im tossible in overcrowded Suva proper.
DAMANU from Fiji is among the 50 varieties of Commonwealth timber used in the Imperial Fores ry nstitute’s new building at Oxford Iniversity. The damanu was presented y the Nadarivatu Timber Company, The damanu has been made into small ables in the Engineering Lecture Room a such a form that they can be used idividually or combined to make larger nits. They have been finished in their atural colour. The names of the 50 imbers and the donors are exhibited on small plaque in each room.
A N important contribution to the \ literature of Fiji will be made when Mr. R. A. Derrick’s new book, The Iji Islands, is published. It was due •om the Government Printer in February.
In 360 pages Mr. Derrick describes the rroup in detail and gives much general eographical information about the olony. The 200 photographs, maps and iagrams will be a feature of the book, nd special care has been taken to see lat reproduction is of the highest quality.
There will be two editions of The Fiji Islands. A quarter-bound edition will sell at 17/6d.; bound in full Rexine the price will be 25/- a copy. rE Aorangi made her last call at Suva on January 19, and her passengers had 24 hours in which to see Suva.
A large crowd of local people went down to the wharf when the Aorangi nulled out —a crowd with a feeling of regret that this ship would no longer carry people from Fiji.
MR. Robert Steele, of Neuline Film Studios, Auckland, with his chief cameraman, Mr. L. Fraser, will pay another visit to Fiji shortly to make films of the Colony. The films have been commissioned by Tasman Empire Air ways, Ltd., in association with the Fiji Publicity Board and Tourist Bureau.
On his previous visits, Mr. Steele collected a good deal of material and his coming trip will enable three films to be made. One is to be in colour, entitled “Fijian Holiday” and will be shown in Australia and New Zealand with (the object of attracting tourists to the Colony.
A second, in black and white, will be of a more general nature, and is intended for screening as a “short” in theatres overseas.
The third film will be a special 30 minute colour film dealing with the joint atractions of Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. This will be widely distributed overseas, especially in North America. The making of this film is part of the campaign being organised by air and shipping lines, and by Government and unofficial tourist agencies in the South Pacific countries, to attract dollar tourists to Fiji, Australia and New Zealand.
SEVEN senior members of the First Suva Nursing Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade have been giving
nursing service at the Colonial War Memorial hospital in order to meet the acute shortage of Sisters.
They were Mrs. U. Tyler, Mrs. I. M.
Beattie, Mrs. L. A. C. Mansell, Miss H.
Parham, Miss F. Richards, Miss E, M.
Frisby and Miss B. Weaver.
A NEWSREEL showing the presentation of a tabua to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps by Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, on behalf of the Fiji Infantry Regiment, was
recently received from the United King dom Central Office of Information by the Public Relations Office and was screened at theatres in all parts of Fiji. Ratu Sir Lala presented the Tabua during his visit to the UK at the end of 1950.
SUVA is once again to see cruise ships.
The Cunard liner Caronia visits Suva on February 3 and the Stella Polaris, which paid several visits to Fiji before the war, is due on February 8.
Mekes and fire-walking have been arranged for the visitors, who will spend one day at Suva.
Although Fiji finds it difficult to cater for all the would-be visitors to its shores, it is indeed encouraging to know that cruises to the Pacific Islands are once again commencing.
THE Suva Radio-Telephone service will now be extended (for emergency use only) over week-ends. Operators
will keep watch from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and from 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. During these periods country stations will be able to get in touch with Suva in cases of emergency. Until the country station calls, Suva will not be able to establish communication. A surcharge may be imposed to cover operating costs, but until this rate has been decided the ordinary radio-telephone rates will apply during the week-end.
SIX Tongans who landed in the Colony without permits, appeared before the Magistrate’s Court in Suva recently, but the case was dismissed.
The men said that they were not bound for Fiji, but were blown ashore at an island in Lau when their craft was damaged in a severe storm. Although the boat had an engine, they had run out of benzine. The men were ordered to return to Tonga on the January Matua.