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rpHE visit of Elizabeth the Queen Mother to Fiji was the occasion for a warm wel come and display of loyalty to the Crown by the people of the Islands. Colourful ceremonies reserved for persons of highest rank, and rarely performed these

days, provided an unforgettable

spectacle for most people, but especially for tourists, whose cameras were kept clicking busily. The spectacles included the stirring meke wesi, or spear dance (below), which was per formed by the men of Wailevu, Cakaudrove and Vanua Levu.

The Queen Mother really made two visits to Fiji in the course of her tour —both of them short. The first was at the

end of March, when she arrived by air at Lautoka to stay over night on her way to Australia; the remainder of the tour was made when she returned to April on the Royal Yacht Brittania.

She inspected guards of honour mounted by Fiji Mili tary Forces wearing scarlet tunics and white sulus; met chiefs dressed in traditional costume (top right) who gave her a ceremonial invitation to land; enjoyed a gesture song and dance performed by the people of Lau (left); and re ceived a present of finely woven mats and tapa from all the Fijian provinces. In Suva she was met by the Mayor, Cr. C.

A. Stinson, in his colourful robe and chain, and in Lautoka by his Indian counterpart, Cr. R.

A. Patel and Mrs. Patel. All these photographs are by Rob Wright, Jnr., of the Fiji PRO.