January 30, 1970

Suva.Among those in attendance are Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Ratu Penaia Ganilau, Ratu Edward Cakobau, Ratu George Cakobau and Jonate Mavoa.

January 22

LAUCALA Island, northeast of Fiji, has been bought by a Suva based real estate company for more than $1 million dollars.

January 23

MOST offices at the Nadi International Airport terminal building emptied yesterday as people crammed vantage point to catch a glimpse of Mr Douglas Fairbanks jnr and his wife as they passed through customs to the public concourse. Mr and Mrs Fairbanks have arrived in Fiji from Singapore for a brief stop in Suva.

January 24

A QUICK thinking employee yesterday foiled an attempt to snatch the $10,000 payroll of Millers Ltd in the heart of Suva. *The Council of Chiefs supports the creation of an Upper House in the legislature when Fiji becomes a dominion.

January 26

THE three-men crew of a 24-ft launch had an amazing escape in Bau waters yesterday when the craft blew up and burnt out. *Almost $750,000 has been earned by workers from Fiji admitted temporarily by New Zealand, the Fiji Ministry of Labour has estimated.

January 27

A COMMITTEE appointed by the Council of Chiefs will submit to the council a proposal that “Fijians” should be the common name for the people of Fiji. The committee is to report to the council at its next meeting in March.

January 28

A MISSIONARY ship arrived in Suva late yesterday afternoon with three boys who had been reported missing from Vanuavatu in Lau in a 6-ft outrigger canoe. They were picked up by a Seventh-day Adventist vessel 10 miles off the island at 9:45 pm on Monday.

January 30

A FOUR- MEN deputation from the Fiji Muslim Political Organisation yesterday spent an hour with Lord Shepherd discussing the possibility of direct representation of Muslims in a new dominion-status government. The members of the deputation said later that they had been well received and that Lord Shepherd had shown great interest in their case.