transitions

Married: In Fiji’s “wedding of the decade” uniting two of the country’s noblest families, Ratu Epinisa Cakobau and Adi Frances Loloma.

The wedding took place on Bau, the traditional home of Fiji’s paramount chiefs. The bridegroom, a 26-year-old civil servant, bears one of the most famous names in South Pacific history and is the eldest son of paramount chief and former governor-general Ratu Sir George Cakobau by his second marriage.

The bride, 23, is third of six daughters of Ratu Josaia Lolo ma of the island of Batiki.

More than 1,000 official guests (and several hundred unofficial ones) made their way to Bau by motor canoe.

A fleet of more than 20 of the “water taxis” were on stand-by on the wedding day earning up to As26o apiece for their own ers which resulted in a boat men’s party later. It was re ported to have outlasted the official one.

Up to a dozen dignitaries, perspiring in suits and ties, crammed into each of the tiny, leaking canoes for the rocky 12-minute voyage from the mainland.

The official guests included the governor-general, prime minister, ambassadors, high commissioners and a veritable Who’s Who of Fiji society.

The 45-minute service was traditional Wesleyan and was conducted wholly in Fijian. The stone and brick church on Bau seats only about 500 and many guests sat outside on chairs and mats to hear the service relayed by loudspeaker.

Later, the official guests sat down to a wedding feast for which five cattle, eight turtles, 12 pigs, 150 chickens, 150 crabs and about 300 fish were cooked in a “lovo”.

The 24-dish meal was washed down by bottles of Australian white wine.

However, the feast was staid compared with the eve-of-wed ding party on Bau when the

island rocked to the boisterous singing of the Bau and Batiki clans each trying to outdo the other.

The ceremony of Tevuteuu or the giving of wedding gifts by the bride’s and groom’s fami lies, preceded the party.

The result was three Bau buildings filled with a vast varie ty of gifts, enough to last the happy couple a lifetime on their return from a honeymoon in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. Jim Shrimpton,

Aap.

Appointed: Secretary-general of the SPC, Palauni M Tuiaso sopo for many years assistant to the American Samoa gov ernors.

Tuiasosopo was a contender for the secretary-general’s posi tion in 1971 but lost out when Fred Betham of Western Samoa and Gala Gala Rarua of PNG tied in the voting.

Rama later withdrew in favour of Betham. Tuiasosopo has had a long association with the SPC as American Samoan delegate.

Installed; As chief of Ulawa, Solomon Islands Governor- General Sir Baddeley Devesi.

The ceremony took place on the last day of Sir Baddeley’s tour of the islands of Makira and Ulawa.

Training: As a sumo wrestler in Japan, Tongan-American John Fele’unga.

He is known in Inazawa by his sumo name, Takamioo.

Fele’unga, from Hawaii, is the son of Semisi Fele’unga formerly of Vaotu’u.

His interest in sumo came from watching it on television in Honolulu. However, he did not know he would have to under go the initiation rite of matawari in which apprentice wrestlers must sit with their legs wide

The happy couple in Fiji’s wedding of the year. Photo: AAP.

apart and touch the floor with their foreheads.

Fele’unga couldn’t do it, so a group of “helpful” colleagues sat on his back.

Appointed: Managing Director of Burns Philp (South Seas) Ltd, Ross McDonald.

Mr McDonald, who replaces Bill Williams was formerly Managing Director of Burns Philp in Vanuatu. He is re placed in Port Vila by Abe Rajbaum formerly manager of American Samoa. Jim Scott, regional manager in Lae, PNG moves to American Samoa.

In Port Moresby, David McLellan, former managing director of Bums Philp (PNG) Ltd has been appointed as chief executive for all of the com pany’s Pacific operations.

Withdrawn: From the Niue- New Zealand trade, the Fetu Moana and Tiare Moana.

Both ships will be replaced by a New Zealand-manned container ship and a Cook Islands-registered conventional vessel. Niue will now be serviced by the Cook Islands flag carrier M.V. Raro Tai which will operate on a five-week turnaround.

The two old faithfuls are due to be withdrawn from service before the end of next month following agreement by the governments of Niue, Cook Islands and New Zealand.

The new direct service be tween! Alofi and Auckland is expected to be of great benefit to agricultural exporters.

Nuie Premier, Sir Robert Rex urged all exporters and potential exporters to make full use of the service.

Installed: 1986 Miss Charity Queen, Jane Sharan, 19, in Fiji’s Hibiscus Festival.

Miss Sharan won a new car worth F$ 17,000.

The Miss Hibiscus crown was won by Irene Butt, 22, who hopes to take her mother to Los Angeles with her prize.

Appointed: New SPC Plant Protection Officer, Robert Macfarlane.

Based in Suva, Mr Macfar lane will work with the SPC tropical agriculturalist on the region’s plant protection prob lems and has special re sponsibility for advice on the use and regulation of pesticides, control of plant pests and dis

eases, plant quarantine and in troduction of new species.

Mr Macarlane, from Britain, was previously senior research officer (entomology) at the Dodo Creek research station in Solomon Islands.

The SPC also announced the appointment of rural technolo gy officer, Madame Daniele Carpentier from France.

Mme Carpentier was pre viously deputy director of the Solar Bio-energy Research Group of the Atomic Energy Commission in France.

Appointed: General manager of Fiji Television Corporation Ltd, David Hall of Australia.

His appointment was announced after a board meet ing by chairman Lynton Taylor.

Hall was previously station manager of GLVB at Traralgon, Victoria.

Appointed: Lecturer in health management and co-ordinator of a new health management program at USP, Suva, Dr Sitaleki Finau of Tonga.

Dr Finau has wide experi ence of medical work in the islands region, having worked in a number of projects includ ing sports medicine, a primary health care review, respiratory infections among children, food requirements after cyclones, a health study in Tokelau and World Health Organisation stu dies.

Retired: Commissioner of the Fiji Prisons Service, Lt-Col.

Mosese Buadroma after 41 years of continuous govern ment service.

Lt-Col Buadromo was bom at Lakeba in 1927 and joined the prisons service in 1984 after serving in the army.

He has been replaced by the new acting commissioner, Lt- Col. Inosi Tawakedrau assisted by the acting deputy commissioner Mr. A. Vosani bolo.

Retired: After 38 years in the Tonga government service, Laitia Fifita chief meteorologi cal officer.

Mr Fifita previously worked for the Pacific Meteorological Service in Laucala Bay, Suva for three years.

He is also deputy editor of the monthly Catholic news paper, Raumu’a Lelei.

Invested: As a knight in traditio nal style, Sir Paulias Matane.

Dressed in the manner befit ting a head man of his clan, Sir Paulias, flanked by two Tum huans was dubbed a knight by PNG Governor-General Sir Kingsford Dibela at Sir

Paulias’ village, Viviran in the Gazelle Peninsula.

At nearby Kokopo high school, Dame Rosa Tokiel also received her award clad in traditional dress and was accorded the treatment of a chief.