Archive for June 28th, 2009

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Blast From The Past is a weekly (or somewhere around that timeframe, as I claim ‘Fiji Time’ as my defendent) post of scans from a 1969 Fiji Times paper which also doubled as a 100 year anniversary issue look back at 1869. Every week one page scan will be posted, allowing you to have a read of issues, politics and topics that was the Fiji of the past.

Origin stories are always fascinating, especially if describing the humble beginnings of mighty empires. The Fiji Times has had a colourful history dating back to 1869, and since then has undergone many company takeovers, managerial changes and corporate mergers. Situated in the then capital of Fiji, Levuka, the Fiji Times has born witness to the ever changing life of Fiji, and over time amassed a great collection of stories and articles that show us how Fiji was in the old days.

For instance, according to this page, late 1800s Levuka was basically the wild wild west, with “no form of government whatsoever.” Tis a pity really, I was hoping that Fiji had some sort of local sheriff that chased criminals, had a cool six shooter and rode often into the beach sunset. Strangely enough, Levuka was more civilised then needing any form of gun slinging justice, and differences were solved in a rather interesting manner.

Say for example, you and Jone had different ideas on your wife’s after hours activities involving one very defensive Jone. Now, gentleman rules state that you can’t just go to his house and beat the crap out of him. That’s so barbaric. And since there’s no government, there’s no judicial system. No judicial system, no fancy wig wearers to hear your claim. So what do you do? Why tell everyone else of course.

“Gather ’round folks!” You yell, perched on top of some non-descript wooden shipping box in the middle of the town square, “gather ’round and let me tell you a tale of dark desire, of betrayal most dear, of love lost and sold to the nearest lark!” Basically, you have to almost put on a show in a public place (preferably town itself, though the local tavern offers the same numbers with the added bonus of reduced straight thinking thanks in no small part to alochol), and tell everyone what exactly is pissing you off. It’s almost as if you’re trying to make a case to the jury, which in this case, is the public in general. And don’t forget, your opponent a.k.a. Jone, is also in the other side of town, doing the same thing, preaching to the crowd of how he has been wrongingfully accused, and how he must clear his name for his family’s sake.

After making a public spectacle of yourself, further dialogue is added to the latest issue of the Fiji Times, with the paper acting as interceder on behalf of the community. It is after this however, that it gets a tad cloudy, with the article describing the matter as “…generally ended”. I’m not quite sure exactly how, after creating all that hoopla out in town and in the Fiji Times, does the matter get resolved, unless some sort of voting was drawn up to finger out the guilty person amongst the two arguing individuals, or, at least in my head, a free for all, last man standing boxing match is organised, with the winner declearing his side of the arguement true. Woah.

Admitedly, the actual article is about 3 men who made the Fiji Times into the news conglomorate it is today, but I was pretty much side-swiped by the near aside description of how differences were solved. I mean, no government, no sheriff, every man for himself?

I call ownership on the inevitable movie script that will be written about this period of Fiji’s history. I can just picture it now.

(Deep movie trailer voice) “In a time when there was no law…”