The Fiji Times excerpts from January 1 to
February 1
THE Ports Authority of Fiji announced in December that an $8 million project was due to began this year to build a fuel tank farm at the back of the Wailada industrial estate at Lami. Several Lami residents reacted strongly against the plan, claiming it was dangerous. February 2
TRADE union leader James Rama flew to Australia to seek support for an international black ban on Carlton Brewery produces to support a strike by Suva Brewery workers.
Mr Raman told the executive that the Carlton Brewery management was refusing to recognise the union as bargaining agent for salaried staff who had become union members.
February 3
SUVA City Council refused permission to Fiji Biomarine Ltd to operate a restaurant upstairs at the Old Town Hall. A company director said the council’s decision was improper under terms of the lease and the company would sue the council to protect and preserve their rights. February 4
BEER supplied throughout the country were expected to run out in a few days after production stopped at the Carlton Brewery in Lautoka.
Eighteen members of the National Union of Factory and Commercial there were striking support of Suva Brewery workers who walked out eight days ago.
February 5
SEVEN prison workers who illtreated prisoners at the Maximum Security Prison on December 21 last year were discharged from the Prison Service.
Their dismissals followed an internal inquiry headed by a senior prison officer at the Naboro Prison Farm.
February 6
SIX Taiwanese and Korean fishermen waiting to be deported from Fiji have been kept in Suva prison for months, Suva Court officials revealed. One of the man was behind bars for at least five months and the others from four months to several weeks.
February 7
A LABASA mother sacrificed her life to save her daughter from the flames of a kerosene stove. Tabucala Kinisimere heard an explosion in the kitchen and found her daughter standing by the stove with her dress on fire. She pushed the girl away and her own dress caught on fire and engulfed her in flames. February 8
FIRE roared through a wooden Muslim temple in Kinoya. Charred skeleton walls were still standing supporting the buckled corrugated iron roof and damage was estimated at $6000.
February 9
ABOUT four tonnes of luggage belonging to soldiers who served in Lebanon were stranded for six months because of shipment difficulties to Fiji. Reports were received from Lebanon that some of the bags had been damaged from exposure.
February 10
WAIMAQERA Estate on Taveuni, one of the biggest private plantations of the island, was bought by a land purchase cooperative formed by many of the plantation’s workers.
The 496-hectare property had been sold by Valentine Tarte, whose grandfather acquired it about 100 years ago.
February 11
A 26-YEAR-OLD driver had a close shave yesterday when an empty milk tanker he was driving plunged off a bridge and landed about 20 feet below in a creek near Nausori. The accident occurred on the Drekenikelo Bridge, Kasavu, on the Kings Rd.
February 12
SUVA Fire Brigade was surveying hydrants after firemen were unable to save a burning house because there was no working hydrant in the area.
A standpipe was found near the Nadera house but it was not fitted with a hydrant.
February 13
THE Government moved to partly take control of the administration of the Judicial Department and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The move surprised and alarmed the Chief Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions and the legal profession.
February 14
FIJI joined Australia in putting an immediate ban on all imports of meat and associated products from New Zealand following a foot and mouth disease scare. February 16
THE Hibiscus Festival Association made a $19,000 profit from last year’s festival. Association president Gopalan Khanna said each of the 19 girls raised more than $1000.
February 17
A 21-YEAR-OLD Sigatoka farm hand was gaoled for life after he was found guilty of murder. Kasi Ram had killed his neighbour Bal Ram after becoming involved in a love affair with his wife. February 18
ABOUT 250 Qantas Airways passengers were stranded at Nadi as the airline’s ground staff in Sydney
decided to continue its strike until midnight on Friday.
February 19
A 25-YEAR-OLD Ba housewife killed her 15-year-old niece with an axe so she could kill herself without being interrupted. Devi was charged with murder, but defence lawyers claimed that she was mentally unwell. February 20
LAMI Town Council sought legal action against Suva City Council if it did not stop dumping rubbish at the Lami Dump by May. The council was told be patient as they were searching for a new site which needed more time to organise.
February 21
A BA girl who admitted flushing her newborn baby down a septic tank was bound over for two years yesterday by the Supreme Court and was ordered to remain at her aunt’s place. February 22
THE National Gym was packed last Sunday by more than 300 people who turned up to see the joint martial arts or ‘Bu Jitsu’, demonstration by officer and crew of the visiting Japanese training vessel, T.S Hakuto Maro. February 23
THE Indian Alliance president, James Shankar Singh, warned the Nausori branch of the party that the Fijian Nationalist Party will use land disputes to win more Fijian support. He claimed that emotions not reason would be used to gather support.
February 24
SIXTY villages or settlements were picked as rural growth centres to service country people who would otherwise migrate to towns. It was said between this year and 1985, the Government would concentrate on developing one major and two smaller centres in each of the four divisions.
February 26
TWO thousand cartons of canned beer that were airfreighted from Australia by Morris Hedstrom Ltd were sold out in one day, the store’s liquor manager said. The cans of KB beer appeared on shelved on Tuesday morning and by yesterday there were none left.
February 28
A YOUNG man caused embarrassment to the new Commissioner of Police Pramesh Raman by pretending to be his son-in-law and obtaining a rental car on this basis. The man, Sarvadanand Sadal, was sentenced to four months gaol for impersonation by the Lautoka court.