The war club
THE war club which belonged to the paramount chief, Ratu Seru Cakobau was presented officially at the legislative council to serve as mace. The mace called the Ai Tutuvi Kuta I Radini Bau (translated coverlet of Radini Bau or Queen of Bau) was given by the chief to Queen Victoria of Great Britain in 1874. It symbolised his allegiance to The Queen, seeking her protection over his country.
The war club once served as a mace of the Fijian House of Commons from 1871-1874 before it was presented to Queen Victoria after Fiji was ceded to the British Empire. For more than 50 years, the mace was kept by the British royal family. King George V then directed that the club be returned to the people of Fiji by the Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher, to be used as a ceremonial mace in the House of Representatives.
A formal presentation ceremony took place on October 3, 1932 when the Governor read the following message from the King: "Since its presentation by King Thakombau to her Majesty Queen Victoria, this mace has had an honoured place among the Royal treasures in Windsor Castle. His Majesty now returns the mace for ceremonial use in the Legislative Council of Fiji as a visible token of his abiding concern for the welfare of his Fijian people of whose unswerving loyalty he is deeply sensible."
February 27, 1931
An estimated 160 people were found missing and yet to be accounted for after a hurricane swept through the districts of Lautoka, Ba and Sigatoka.
March 20, 1933
First seaplane flight from Suva to Lautoka described as successful.
February 1, 1935
Fiji extended a warm welcome to His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester on his arrival to Fiji on board the HMS Australia.
August 25, 1938
Rugby history was made at Albert Park when Fiji vanquished the Maori side by 11 points to 5.
March 19, 1936
Work on the filling in of the Naiqaqi area, the site of the Government Buildings in Suva is described to be progressing well and its stated to be well over half completed.
September 21, 1939
Members of the Fijian rugby team returned from their successful tour of New Zealand to a rousing welcome from all sections of the community.