FIJI CELEBRATIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 August 1924, Page 5

FIJI CELEBRATIONS.

JUBILEE OE CESSION. The jubilee of the cession of the Fiji Group to the British Crown will be celebrated in October next, when the celebrations, to be le’d at Levuka, will include a pageant, of the events of 50 yenrsi ago, native parades, singing and dancing mekes, native canoe racing, and. the extensive programme of native sports. Arrangements that are being made for the occasion provide for sight-seeing tours for visitors, in addition to an elaborate programme of entertainments. It has boon arranged that the steamer Tofua, leaving Auckland on Saturday, October 4, shall call at Levuka, and remain there from Friday, 9th, till Saturday night, October 10, to give passengers an opportunity of seeing the Fijian natives and other Polynesians in the midst of their ceremonies. Intending visitors from Sydney to these celebrations could proceed by the Makura on September 25 to Suva, or connect at Auckland with the Tofua. Eifty years ago the native chiefs of Fiji ceded the islands to Great Britain, and sovereignty was proclaimed by Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of New South Wales, on September 23, 1574, A year later tbe administration was assumed by Sir Arthur Gordon, the first Governor.