Lautoka Turned

The Queen Mother Couldn't Come, But . . .

On "The Works'

Just The Same

Prom a Lautoka Correspondent

Although an appendicii

operation put an end to tl Queen Mother’s visit to Fiji February, the people of Lautol threw everything but the kitche sink into entertaining the ofi cers and men of the Royal yab Britannia.

THE Britannia, which was to ha taken the Queen Mother to Ne Zealand, reached Lautoka from Tah on February 8, three days after h tour had been cancelled. The Que< Mother had been due to arrive Nadi on February 10.

When the Britannia steamed into sun-drenched Lautoka Harbour, si was greeted by a crowd on the whai front and a telegram of welcon from the mayor.

From then on any disappointme at the cancellation of the Royal vis was funnelled towards the visitii sailors and dispersed in a blanket < welcome and hospitality the like which none but Royal visitors r ceive anywhere.

Messages of Thanks Though the Royal yacht eventual spent a couple of days in Suva b fore setting off for the United Kin dom on February 15, it was Lautol and the Western Districts which r mained as the most pleasant memo: of the visit.

Messages of thanks to all co: cerned from the crew were unanir ous in the hope that they won return in the very near future.

Lautoka’s success in entertainii the visitors in the Royal yacht fc lowed a similar success last ye; when the Britannia called to awa the arrival of the Queen and tl Duke of Edinburgh, at the beginnir of their tour of Fiji, New Zealar and Australia.

Then the Lautoka-ites were d scribed as “letting their hair dowr and throughout the Britannia’s week stay, they allowed no man aboai the opportunity for leisure time.