Moments in memory
1950-1959
THESE are events that occurred between 1950 and 1959.
October 24, 1951
Recruitment for Fijian volunteers to go to Malaya in 1952 begins.
January 8, 1952
Thousands gathered along Victoria Pde from Cakobau Rd to the Triangle right to the King’s Wharf to farewell the 1st Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment who were headed for Malaya.
October 7, 1953
After 72 years as a town, Suva became a city at 5pm on this day. Sir Ronald Garvey signed the proclamation — made in the Queen’s name — in the presence of civil, military and church authority and thousands of people. The Mayor, Mr MacFarlane, in his reply to the Governor’s address, linked the proclamation with the 79th celebration of Cession on October 10.
There was an outburst of applause when the Mayor said: “That day of celebration each year brings significantly to our hearts and minds the spirit of the Deed of Cession and more strongly do we appreciate the loyalty and splendid example of the Fijians, whose ancestors ceded these islands to the crown.”
April 27, 1953
Holy Trinity Cathedral, the centre of the widely spread diocese of Polynesia, was consecrated at Suva, yesterday morning with all the colour and dignity of Anglican ritual.
October 7, 1953
Eight people lost their lives after an earthquake, followed by a tsunami hit parts of Fiji.
December 12, 1953
The 17 canoes which greeted Queen Elizabeth when she arrived for her visit, took to the triangular course in Suva Harbour for a race. It was said that the last canoe race in Suva was held 40 years previously.
April 15, 1955
Semesa Sikivou, a master on the staff of Queen Victoria School graduated with a Masters of Arts in the University of New Zealand. He was the first Fijian to achieve this distinction.
May 18, 1956
W.R Carpenter & Company (Fiji) Ltd established a whale watching organisaiton between Ovalau, Wakaya and Batiki.
June 19, 1956
People from all over Fiji turned out in Suva streets to welcome home enthusiastically the 1st Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment.
August 17, 1956
Midwife Nurse, Grace Morrison helped deliver 1703 Fijian babies into the world.
December 17, 1956
Thousands of Suva people joined in the festivities of the first Hibiscus Festival. 18-year-old Miss Liebling Hoeflich won the Miss Hibiscus title.
August 31, 1957
Harold Charles Gatty, owner of Fiji Airways, died at about 8pm at CWM Hospital in Suva following a heart attack earlier in the day. Mr Gatty was not only one of the pioneers of aviation in Fiji but achieved world recognition by his flight with the famous aviator Wiley Post around the world in eight days and 15 hours in 1931.
April 30, 1958
Sir Hugh Ragg, the only survivor of the original Ragg’s family, celebrated his 76th birthday on January 26, 1958, the day his great grandson was born — the baby was the first of the fourth generation of Raggs to be born in Fiji.
May 31, 1958
Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna died aboard the Arcadia off Ceylon, in the early hours of the morning of May 30 (9.45am Fiji Time).
June 5, 1958
More than 3000 Fijians watched in silence at Nadi Airport just before nine o’clock (on Thursday, June 6), while the body of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna was taken from a Qantas Constellation from Sydney. They came from towns and remote villages in the provinces of Ba, Ra, and Nadroga and Navosa.
June 6, 1958
Three tenders were received by the Government of Fiji for the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva.
June 6, 1958
A man who lived to see the fourth generation of his descendants was cremated at the Vatuwaqa Cemetery on Thursday, June 6. Nandkumar Chaube, died at his house at Toyota St, Samabula on Tuesday, aged 107.
April 2, 1959
The total estimated value of all building work at Suva for the first two months of 1959 was £109,630, an increase of £59,032 over the corresponding period of 1958.
Tuesday, September 8, 1959 A Sharp earthquake jolted Suva and environs at 6pm, Monday evening. Mr R.E. Houtz geologist with the Geological Survey Department, who lived at Nasese, said: “It was quite a good one. I should say it was about Force 4.”
September 19, 1959
More than 3000 Fijians were at Bau Island to witness the induction of Ratu George Kadavulevu Cakobau, as the Vunivalu and Tui Kaba. The chiefly seat had not been filled for 106 years since Ratu Seru Cakobau, later Tui Viti — Ratu George’s great-grandfather — was installed.