Rhinoceros Beetle

New Precautions in Fiji

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, March 16. rHERE is an unconfirmed report that the rhinoceros beetle, prob ably the deadliest insect enemy of he coconut palm, has appeared in Vavau, Tonga.

Every possible means is now be* ng taken to ensure that the beetle loes not get into Fiji.

For many years Tonga, like Fiji, las taken precautions against the possible introduction of the rhino ceros beetle from Western Samoa where coconut plantations have suf ered from its activities for about 10 years.

Several years ago black wasps were ntroduced into Western Samoa from Zanzibar and they are reported to have lone good work against the rhino ceros beetle, but the pest is still far from being eliminated.

When the Tofua arrived at Suva Tom Samoa and Tonga on March 12, she was required to move out into he stream at sunset and to remain here through the night. This was because the rhinoceros beetle flies anly by night and is unable to fly far. [f a ship is anchored well away from and there is virtually no possibility 3f a beetle invasion.

Loading of the Tofua went on dur ng the night by means of barges, The Rain item of cargo being a scanty aost-hurricane shipment of bananas for New Zealand.

On March 13 the freighter Moray*aank arrived from to load copra at Suva, Levuka and Savusavu.

Fwo holds containing Vavau copra were promptly sealed by Agriculture Department officers, and the ship will be required to anchor away from the shore every night that she is in Fiji waters.

Approval has been given for the appointment of three additional Jus tices of the Peace or Commissioners for Declaration in Lae, New Guinea.

The fact that there have been too few JPs has been a source of public inconvenience.