same nrSammp of sliEndPi- ftp

Historic Lantern Slides

Of Fiji And Samoa

Authorities concerned with the preservation of the pictorial history of Western Samoa and Fiji would have found much of in terest in a programme of historic lantern slides presented at Sydney in August by the Photographic Society of New South Wales (Inc.).

The photographs had been taken by the late Mr. Walter Burke, FRPS, a New Zealand postal official and a noted photographer and

lecturer ’ at the end of last His son - Mr Keast Burke, ARPS, apsa. Is present editor of the Aus trotastan Photo-Review, and the

same nrSammp of sliEndPi- ftp

luTnices of the £ 6 H n s f P 3 ra F n hlc Jv C * earher SW exactly 50 years „ .

Salmon Tn lt t«Q7 B t- to Samoa in 1897 as official photo grapher to NZ Prime Minister Richard John Seddon, who was on an official visit. He also visited Apia in 1896 and 1898 as postal official in

charge of mail aboard the trans pacific liner Alameda, and in the same capacity aboard the Union Steam Ship Company’s Waikare on a 10-day cruise to Fiji in 1902. (Continued overleaf t

Many of the photographs were primarily of artistic interest and merit, but others, especially of Apia and Suva, and of people at tlmse places, were of great historical in terest.

Most noticeable in a shot of Suva Harbour was the great number of ships in port, most of them sailing craft. There were some interesting views of Victoria Parade and its buildings, and a series on Fijian fire-walking ceremonies at Bega.

"There was a picture of the then Governor declaring the official ending of the period of mourning for Queen Victoria to the Council of Chiefs, The chiefs, it was noted in this and another shot, appeared to favour a comparatively short hair style.

There was an excellent shot of Prime Minister Seddon with an unnamed Samoan at Apia, and an other of the hurricane wrecks along the foreshore—two still substanti ally intact.

Only a comparatively small selec tion of Island slides was shown due to time limitations. A great many others exist in the Burke collection.

Mr. Keast Burke, as editor of the Australasian Photo-Review, is an executive of Kodak Ltd. t Port Moresby’s second post-war race meeting will be held on January 2.

t Graduation ceremonies held in the Recreation Hall at Tutuila, American Samoa, were attended by a group of 250 relatives and spectators. Diplomas were awarded to 31 students, six of whom were girls, who have completed the high school course requirements. A majority of the students will enter

the teaching field. Some will go to commercial work and a smallef group will go to Hawaii or the US for further education. The HigE School’s new principal (Mr. Marvii Senter) officiated. Mr. Senter waj commercial instructor at the schocr for 3h years before his recent pro< motion.