In Fiji
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
Another Beetle In Fiji
(See article on page 106)
Suva, Mar. 9.
FIJI’S second live rhinoceros beetle was found by a Fijian in his house at Suvavou, near Suva, and it has led to a thorough ransacking of the area at the head of Suva Harbour by a team organ ised by the Agriculture Department.
The beetle (another female) was found by Sitiveni Tegu who —like the Fijian stevedore who recognised the first beetle aboard the ship Thorsisle a fortnight earlier— promptly took it to the experts.
The whole Suvavou-Lami area is being thoroughly searched for beetles or their grubs, and likely breeding-places are being destroyed.
A large part of the Suva popula tion of all races has become beetle conscious. It is recognised that it would be a major disaster for Fiji if the “devastating pest” (an offi cial phrase) should gain a foot hold.
How did the Suvavou beetle ar rive? One theory is that a ship from Samoa or Tonga required to move out to the stream at sunset may have gone too close to the shore at the head of the harbour
The fact that two beetles, both capable of introducing the pest to Fiji, have been found here * within a few weeks, and obviously brought by ships from Samoa or Tonga, will almost certainly cause further restrictions to be imposed on traffic between those countries and Fiji, The incident is a good example of the dangers, in the shape of pests and diseases, that at tend the introduction of faster transport be tween the Islands.
This photograph was taken at the Bowlers Ball, at Vatukoula, Fiji’s gold mining town, on New Year’s Eve. In the back row are Mr. Pat Clay, CSR over seer at Tavua; Mrs. Clay; Mr. C. Thoma, Morris Hedstrom manager at Tavua; Superintendent Jock Milne. SITTING: Mrs. Jim Turner; Mr. Turner (manager of Tavua Hotel); Mrs. Milne. Mr. Thomas is wearing the “lucky hat” which won him a bottle reputed to contain whisky.