Page 49 - Melanesia
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1915 - Apolosi Nawai, who came from             ings along the street was razed in a fire that  1935 - Broadcasting services begun in Fiji by
Narewa village in Nadi claimed a mes-           engulfed everything in the vicinity. 45 shops   a local subsidiary of Amalgamated Wireless
sianic revelation calling upon him to free      were destroyed. These included eight tailors,   (Australasia) Ltd.
the Fijians and in the event started the Viti   18 refreshment rooms (grog shops) and
Kabani. The first Fijian contingent sailed for  several retailers.                              1937 - Non-official Legco membership be-
Europe (WWI) aboard the RMS Makura. It                                                          comes partly elected and partly nominated.
was the First world war and the First Bat-      1928 - The Southern Cross. piloted by
talion of the French Foreign Legion had just    Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm         1939 - New Government Buildings opens
been repulsed three times in front of Fort      landed at Albert Park. Other members of         in Suva. First airfield built at Nadi. Pan-Am
Navarin. The first company volunteered to       the crew included radioman Jim Warner and       begins trans Pacific flying boat service.
carry out the last attempt. Among them was      navigator Harry Lyons.
a Fijian who was wounded in that action, he                                                     1940 - Native Lands Trust Board set up
was Ratu JLV Sukuna.                            1929 - Indian community given go ahead          to look after the welfare of the indigenous
                                                to elect to have elected representation on      Fijian through the better management of
1917 - The Fiji Labour Detachment is born.      Legislative Council.                            their land.
Count Felix von Luckner is captured in Wa-
kaya by members of the Fiji Constabulary.       1932 - First gold bullion exported from Mt      1942 - WWII was now in earnest and gov-
                                                Kasi, and by November a gold rush was of-       ernment had started recruiting the previous
1920 - Indians force government into mak-       ficially on.                                    year, managing to recruit a force of 6500
ing radical changes in attitude towards free                                                    which included three regular Battalions, two
Indians, especially in politics.                1933 - Establishment of Fiji Airways, but it    commando units artillery section labour
                                                later fails.                                    Corp and all the necessary supporting units.
1921 - A lightning bolt hit Government
House and caused a fire which completely        1934 - The Dolphin, Emperor and Loloma          1947 - Introduction of residential permits to
razed the Governor’s residence.                 mines were opened. Ten years later they         restrict immigration.
                                                were producing gold valued at 15 million
1923 - In the early morning the many build-     dollars.                                        1951 - Harold Gatty restarts Fiji Airways,
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