This silent film is part of the Viti News Presents series.
Suva was proclaimed a city in 1952 when the Muanikau and Samabula wards were annexed which expanded its territory to 13 kilometres.
TITLE “The Army at work - and Play!”
GV Officer’s looking into rangefinder inside bunker.
Coastal defence gun firing rounds towards sea
Fijian men being pushed in wheelbarrow tilting at targets which drop water on them.
GV Men being piggy backed and play-fighting each other with mops while Fijian officers watch.
INTER TITLE: “SUVA town becomes a CITY!”
GV The Triangle in Suva city, people walking and cars driving past. The vuni vesi [Ivi] tree, the Morris Hedstrom building and the Noel Levy building opposite it.
INTER TITLE: “Signing of Proclamation by Sir Ronald Garvey KCMG, MBE.”
INTER TITLE: “Oct. 7, 1953”
Sir Ronald Garvey (Governor of Fiji 1952 - 1958) shaking hands with men.
Guests seated in stands with the sign “FIJI VISITORS BUREAU” at the back.
Sir Ronald Garvey seated at table and signing proclamation, two men stand nearby [Chief Justice of Fiji, Sir Ragnar Hyne].
Fiji Army band play the trumpets.
GV Garvey and others [Hyne] making speeches at podium.
HS Overlooking crowds gathered outside large building listening to speakers.
GV Garvey speaking with people while moving towards official limousine.
Fijian Army officers and soldiers posing for camera.
Officer escorting a woman to car.
INTER TITLE: “A day at the beach in FIJI”
GV Men, Women and children paddling in water at shoreline of beach.
Fijian man riding horse along beach while carrying large stick.
Woman and child playing with sand on beach.
Child playing with stick on beach, chasing man along shoreline.
Woman standing amongst surf holding toddler above waves.
Man dragging large sack along beach.
GV Woman walking near small village in front of bure and vale vakaviti.
TILT UP To top of coconut palms moving in strong wind.
GV Elderly women, man and toddler walking near palm trees in cultivated garden.
HS LS PAN R From bridge across coastal river [Rewa river] to seaside town in distance [Suva] and surrounding hills.
GV European Women posing for camera outside colonial house.