The Adi Natuicake festival raised $170,848 for the Lau Provincial Council in Suva.
On October 11, 1993, The Fiji Times reported that the money was collected over the weekend to go towards the Yatu Lau Company, the council’s business arm.
Apart from tikina contributions, festival organisers also received contributions from individuals.
Any contribution over $50 by any individual, village or tikina gave them the right to own shares in the Yatu Lau Company.
Festival organising committee member Lieutenant-Colonel Metuisela Mua said more money was being sent in by Lau people living in Vatukoula and Vanua Levu.
Tui Nayau and former Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara thanked the people of Lau for their efforts and contributions, which he said were a major factor behind the success of the festival.
“It was important for the people of Lau to learn to be self-reliant, and not to expect hand-outs from others.”
Earlier on, his eldest daughter, Adi Ateca Ganilau, led the tikina of Lakeba in performing a lakalaka.
Apart from the contributions from the 13 tikina in Lau, a delegation from the Fijian Teachers Association and the people of Lomanikoro, in Rewa, also contributed.
Lomanikoro is the chiefly village of Rewa where Ratu Sir Kamisese’s wife, Ro Lady Lala, hailed from.
She was the Roko Tui Dreketi, the paramount chief of Rewa and head of the Burebasaga Confederacy, which comprises Rewa, Kadavu, Namosi, Serua, Nadroga, and parts of the Ba Province.
In addition, the Ratu Mara Trust Fund contributed $20,000 to the Yatu Lau Company.
A further $200,000 in reserved shares were deposited in the bank about a year ago.
The individual tikina contributions were:
– Lakeba $33,100.
– Cicia $22,055.
– Lomaloma $22,055.
– Kabara $17,890.
– Matuku $14,396.
– Totoya $14,010.
– Ono $14,000.
– Moala $11,570.
– Mualevu $10,208.
– Moce $6322.
– Oneata $6300.
– Fulaga $6100.
– Nayau $5385.
