Griffiths, Levuka and the move to Suva

The Fiji Times opened shop in Levuka on September 4, 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths who was only 25 years old at the time. According to early stories in The Fiji Times Griffiths was a resourceful and energetic pioneer to whose influence in many fields for 40 vigorous years Fiji owes much. The London-born Griffiths remained the owner of this newspaper until his death in 1908.

In 1868 Griffiths married in Christchurch, New Zealand and moved to Fiji a year later to establish The Fiji Times at a time when there was no form of government whatsoever in Fiji. Griffiths was reported to have remarked that "considering the freedom from restraint which the settlers enjoyed, every man doing as he thought right in his own eyes the community was an exceedingly orderly one, and comparatively few disturbance occurred." Early in the life of The Fiji Times, Griffiths engaged as editor Thomas H. Prichard who earned the great respect of his Levuka fellow-citizens as writer, poet and actor.

In the 1969 Centennial copy Prichard was best remembered through his daughter world-famous author, Katherine Susannah Prichard, who was born on Levuka during the hurricane of 1884 and later named her autobiography Child of the Hurricane.

The partnership between Griffiths and Prichard dissolved in 1870 and thereafter Griffiths carried on the newspaper alone. Griffiths came into the world in more peaceful circumstances. His family were of distinguished Welsh origin. They were reported to be architects, builders and timber yard owners. Griffith's father Joseph was an artist whose paintings were exhibited at the Royal academy.

When The Fiji Times was established all material for production had to be imported in small and irregular sailing craft from England and New South Wales. Griffiths had other commercial interests aside from running The Fiji Times as he was director of the Fiji Fire and Marine Insurance company Ltd and promoted the sale of a non-alcoholic stimulant reported by the early Fiji Times as Zoedone.

This was a delicious, sparkling, phosphated iron beverage which steadies the nerves, supports the strength and quenches thirst. His more serious business enterprise was expressed in the setting up of the Fiji Times Express — Fiji's first postage stamps. The first home of The Fiji Times was in Albion Passage Levuka.

The public office fronted Beach St where the 1914-18 war Memorial stands today. As the business prospered more elaborate premises were built, also on Beach St.

The double storey building bore the titles: Office of The Fiji Times. When after cession it was decided that the capi-

Picture: FILE Second ‘The Fiji Times’ office in Levuka.

Picture: FT FILE Founder of The Fiji Times George Littleton Griffiths who had 10 children of his own and who raised three of his brother’s daughters and another two children of Indian descent.

Picture: FILE Fiji Times office in Levuka in the early days of establishment.