Place In The Sun For Bau

The Government of Fiji has allocated $lO,OOO “without strings attached” to give a new lease of life to the historical island of Bau.

The money was allocated following a motion in the Legisla tive Council by Opposition Leader A. D. Patel that the government provide ways and means to start the renovation of Bau and to preserve its historical relics and monuments.

Mr. Patel’s proposal was re ceived warmly by the Chief Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (PIM, Jan.).

Sir Kamisese said that at a recent meeting of the Council of Chiefs it had been decided to help in restoring Bau, and that timber would be brought from Lau for the reconstruction of

some of the island’s pre-European landmarks.

Not far from Nausori, Bau is the traditional home of the Cakobau chiefs. It’s Fiji’s most famous island. The chief of Bau once took precedence over all the other chiefs of Fiji, and the language of Bau was to the islands of Fiji what the Latin tongue was to Europe.

The Fijian leaders hailed Mr.

Patel’s motion as a sign of under standing between the Fijians and the Indians.

Our picture shows an RNZAF helicopter (centre) landing on Bau —the first aircraft ever to do so. Aboard were Flt.-Lt. J.

Clements, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Ratu George Cakobau.

A. G. Shearer took the photo.