Cathedral ceremony will enthrone new bishop
A Tongan-born Anglican clergyman, the Venerable Jabez Bryce, will become the fifth Bishop in Polynesia at a special ceremony in Suva’s Holy Trinity Cathedral tomorrow.
He will be the first indigenous priest to hold the position.
Archdeacon Bryce succeeds Bishop John Holland, who resigned on February 7 and is doing parish work in England.
Naval men to get birch Judge rules
Two Royal cooks who earlier were each jailed for six months and fined $200 for assault and robbery will now serve two years and get strokes of the birch.
The Supreme Court yesterday quashed a Suva Court sentence as “inadequate”.
The Chief Justice, Mr Justice Grant, in substituting longer imprisonment and corporal punishment, said there were no extenuating circumstances.
Chan Kwai Yau (21) and Ma Chu Yau (25) cooks in the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Hydra were convicted at Suva Court last week.
Father buried son out of fear, court told
A Sigatoka father buried the body of his mentally retarded son in a shallow grave without telling anyone because he was frightened of court action, the Supreme Court of Lautoka heard yesterday.
Dor Sami Naidu (s/o Munsami Naidu) has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of his son Velaidan (27), at Yalasa, Sigatoka between July 9 and August 21 last year.
Inspector Mohammed Yakub Khan of Nadi, who was the investigating officer in the case, told the court he took a statement from Naidu in which he confessed.
Inspector Khan said Naidu told him that four of his sons who live with him are half mad and one of them, Velaidan, was the worst.
Small family help suggested
Fiji families which hold their size to three children should get special tax concessions and other benefits, a study group at a population control seminar recommended in Suva.
The other benefits should be free education and medical treatment, the group suggested.It said there should be increased income tax allowance for families restricted to three children and an incentive bonus concession for families with less than three.
The group which represents trade unions and local employers, said employers should be able to claim as tax concessions any money they spent on family planning programmes.
Games progress despite split
A major split between two executives involved in operating the South Pacific Games in Guam threatens its smooth running.
Central figures in a row are the president of the Games council, Mr Ted Nelson, and the former Games commissioner director, Mr Joe Paulino, who resigns in March.
The Sydney-based Pacific Islands Monthly reported Mr Paulino alleged interference by Mr Nelson. Although Mr Nelson denied the allegation, it was apparently proved by his signed note to commission staff and committees.
Star Vatukoula player in doubt
Vatukoula’s crack centre-three quarter, Willy Peckham, is a doubtful starter in today’s Ascot Trophy game against Rewa at Theodore Park.Peckham injured his right shoulder on Thursday in a training match against Vatukoula Colts, ordered by coach Carl Muller.
He suffered a similar injury against Suva three weeks ago and was extremely doubtful yesterday whether he would be able to play. Peckham’s absence would be a big blow for Vatukoula who are anxious to make a good showing against Rewa.
Flagstaff could go down in top match
Classy Marist-St Columbus may score a shock win over Flagstaff in the main match of the Suva soccer competition at Albert Park tomorrow. University of the South Pacific should maintain its unbeaten run against Western in an earlier Division One match.
Support tour says Minister
Fiji’s Minister for Sports, Mr Jone Naisara has appealed to the public to support the proposed Samabula Club Hockey tour of Australia, New Zealand and India this year.
In a message through the club’s newsletter, Mr Naisara said hockey was a sport which increasing numbers of Fiji people were playing
“It is only natural that it be given all the boost and assistance that it needs,” he said.
“We have held many hockey tournaments in Fiji over the past years and we have also the pleasure of receiving overseas hockey players.”
