FIJI AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1930, Page 2

FIJI AFFAIRS

: INDIAN' FIRE-WALKING. SUVA, Aug. 21. - Hi,s Excellency the Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher, arrived back from Sydney and Lady Fletcher last week and received a very warm welcome. He was met by the Chief J ustice and all the leading officials and the Mayor when the Ventura drew alongside the wharf. His Excellency said he was much the better for the medical attention he had received while in Sydney, and lie certainly looked very lfiucli better. He signalised his return by attending tlie dance given that same night to the visiting Auckland ’Varsity team of footballers. The Government has been notified that Dr A. H. B. ’Pearce, from the Bahamas, has been appointed as chief medical officer of Fiji, and wil. leave the Bahamas in October next .for Suva. At present lie ,is director of medical services in the Bahamas. Mm Pearce is also a qualified medical doctor. DIPHTHERIA EPIDEMIC, An outbreak of diphtheria among the school children has induced the (> wrnlirent (against thi? advice of the Medical Officer of Health) to close the Girls’ Grammar School. The doctor held that the modern method was to keep the school open, as the Bafeest method of preserving the chi dren’s health, but the Executive Council thought otherwise. Rumour says that about 14 children are affected, but the official report only gives nine. WALKING IN BURNING CHARCOAL. The natives of Benga are not to have a monopoly in fire-waiving. On Sunday last the Hindus had a firewalking ceremony near the golf links. There was a large crowd of all races, including many leading Europeans. The centre of operations was an oblong pit Ift deep, 20,ft long, and Bft wide. In it was a heap of burning charcoal, the result of burning several tons of donga firewood. The priest and his followers approached while attendants spread the charcoal. Even with long poles this task was difficult. The priest, lightly clad in native costume, with a large bowl of floweris on his head, circled the pit, sprinkling water. The priestly party was also sprinkled, incense burned, gongs clashed, and amid a deafening noise by all the Indians the seven or eight men, led by the priest walked thiough the glowing charcoal, which at times reached up. to the \ calves of their legs. Six or seven times was the ceremony repeated. None was affected by the fire, but some were overcome by excitement. It was a most exciting scene, and one never to be forgotten. SAVAGE FISH OVERCOME, There is no record of a sail fish having been caught in Fiji until recently, when two natives, Tukelaus and fishermen, brought a beautiful sped* men measuring 12ft ashore, after a titanic struggle lasting for some hours and covering ■ fully three miles of harbour. They hooked the fish on an ordinary line; —just fishermen’s luck—and at once entered upon a fierce struggle. On several occasions the fish savagely rushed .the boat, and . only quick swerves allowed them to escape swamping and disaster, Tlie fish at last, when right at the lighthouse, gave up the fight and was dispatched. Hie sword was 2lin long, and his sail-like back fin measure about 3ft by 3ft. The fin was black and the sword had a file-lke surface. The Suva museum will get sword and sail. AMERICAN GIRLS’ WHIM. Two American ladies recently visited Fiji, after a cruise round Tonga and Samoa, One, Miss Merrill, flew right round the main .island of Viti Levu, being the first woman to do so. Not contented with this achievement, her friend took out a motor driver’s license, and, borrowing an Indian’s car, drove the taxi, collecting a fare of 3s, and being the first woman in Fiji to drive a taxi car foy hire. Such pranks are very popular among, American women, and much is made of these feats in their home town Presis.