Archives-October 1944

Further recollections of a decade in Fiji

By Na Matanivanua

ONE of Suva’s happiest and most democratic institutions was the Suva Yacht Club, formed and kept going by a band of enthusiastic young sea-lovers of both sexes. Suva Harbour was at its prettiest with the yacht Club’s fleet out in a harbour race. And then there were those very bright yachting weekends at Nukulau Island, when few got any sleep, but a good time was had by all in the manner of yachtsmen the world over.

Mention of the Yacht Club brings to mind one member who owned largish craft and decided one Christmas to give a party on board the ship, anchored out in the harbour. It was a bright turnout but one guest was evidently in some-

thing of a quandary as to correct dress for the occasion, so he compromised by arriving in the bathing shorts of the true small-boat man, topped with father’s tail coat and a bow tie in deference to the social nature of the function. As late in the evening he took an involuntary dip in the tide, it would be interesting to know what the father had to say about a salt water-soaked tail-coat.

SPORT has always played a big part in the life of Fiji, and there were some notable sporting events during the last

decade. An Australian ladies’ hockey team visited Suva and showed the local ladies’ team a thing or two; and, later, a local ladies’ team went to New Zealand and was virtually massacred by the New Zealand lasses.

New Zealand University cricket and hockey teams also visited, but undoubt edly the most notable sporting event was the visit of the Marie Rugby team.

For the first time in their lives, the Fijians were put on the field in boots.

Twenty minutes after the game started most of the boots were on the sidelines, and the Kai Viti then showed the Maoris something in speed. In the Test series, Fiji and New Zealand broke even - one game each and one draw. That visit led to the Fijian visit to New Zealand, when the island team put up a record as the only team to tour New Zealand and not lose a match. They won every match but one, which was drawn. ■