Islanders Celebrate The
pp. 17-18 · Read in the full issue
Coronation
EVERY South Pacific Islands community which flies the Union Jack entered with zest into the celebration of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2. Early reports in from the different Terri tories describe notable speeches by Governors and Administrators, solemn church services, colourful processions, much ceremonial at the schools, and happy feasting and playing by all the different com munities.
Papua-New Guinea
With £lO,OOO made available by the Government, and under the direction of Administrator D. M.
Cleland, every centre in the two big Australian Territories staged a cele bration. Common to all were native feasts and dancing, and large-scale tree-planting.
PORT MORESBY More than 2,000 Europeans and natives, rep presenting Services and civilian organisations, marched through town in finest peace-time parade ever seen in the Territory, salute being taken by Administrator. There were tree-planting, native dances at Ela Beach, a Government House reception by Mr. and Mrs. Cleland, and fireworks.
RABA UL —Church services, large parade, tree-planting, an official re ception, all under leadership of Dis trict Commissioner J. K. McCarthy and his wife. Features; Mass sing ing by the Methodist and Catholic choirs, each of 1,000 voices; colourful pageantry by the Chinese com munity; reading of the Act of Loyalty in three languages; fine native dancing displays.
LAE —Fine procession, notable for displays by Chinese and natives; field sports, official reception, a very successful Coronation Ball, and fire works. Lae’s parade of decorated floats was up to big-city standard.
MADANG —Parade, Act of loyalty, massed choirs, tree-planting, formal reception, notable dances by natives.
Roads to Madang were choked with natives, and 5,000 who staged a native sing-sing provided finest dis play of tribal regalia ever seen in New Guinea.
Similar celebrations in other centres included the opening of a new school at SAMARAI, and at GOROKA (Highlands) the lighting of a great ring of bonfires around the mountains. About 16,000 be decked Highlands natives marched in procession at Goroka.
Fiji
The outstanding feature of the Coronation celebrations in Fiji was the way in which all communities (European, Fijian, Indian and Chinese) united in religious and official ceremonies, and public de monstrations to show loyalty and happiness. Asiatic peoples have a genius for colourful pageantry, and this was shown strikingly in Suva, where displays by the Chinese and Indian people took first and second prizes.
All Fijian towns and villages re cognised the Coronation in various ways; but the centre of it all was seen in Suva, where, in fine weather, after early religious services in all churches, all four communities met and mingled under the happiest con ditions, under the leadership of the Governor (Sir Ronald Garvey) and Lady Garvey.
More than 10,000 gathered early in Albert Park to see reviews and dances; there was a parade of 50 decorated floats through the town —all ingenious and colourful, some strikingly artistic and some very amusing; and the evening was given over to dancing and singing, and fireworks displays. Their Excel lencies entertained about 600 people at Government House, at a Corona tion Ball.
The Governor and his party, with the Mayor (Mr. McFarlane) watched the afternon procession from a raised platform; and His Excellency adjudged one of the three Chinese floats, entitled “Royal Gloriana” the best decorated. Prize for most orig inal went to Toorak Boy Scouts, with their “Royal Coach.” Amongst the most amusing exhibits was a huge dragon which the Chinese com munity had borrowed per favour of Pan American World Airways, from the Honolulu Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Its passage was marked by fire crackers as it cavorted in exhausting fashion, with the aid of about 50 young Chinese in blue sashed white uniforms, operating in relays.
Other amusing exhibits included the Governor’s “Public Enemy No. 1” —a realistic rhinoceros beetle; the Defence Club float, illustrating the supposed habits of its members; with Captain Hay, chained in a dog kennel. The Fire Brigade outstand ing exhibit, “Rhinoceros Beetle’s Paradise,” depicted a rum-swilling planter lolling in his hammock under palms, fanned by pretty South Sea
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The photographs give some glimpses of [?]e celebrations in Suva on June 2. [?]ading downwards:— The Governor (Sir Ronald Garvey) and dy Garvey and their two daughters
arrive early at Albert Park, to witness display by school children.
The float, made by the Chinese com munity, which won first prize.
A striking float, made by the Indian community, which also won a prize.
The Governor’s Entry: A car made up to represent a Rhinoceros Beetle, and labelled “Public Enemy No. 1.”
maidens, while (presumably) the beetle destroyed his plantation.
British Solomons
Coronation celebrations in Honiara included special Church services, a ceremonial parade by the BSI Police, a series of tableaux depict ing historic scenes in the Solomons, a fireworks display and a torchlight procession. Bonfires were lighted from Cape Esperance along the coast to Point Cruz. There was a native feast. The High Commissioner and Mrs. Stanley gave a ball at Govern ment House.