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Two early Suva , Fiji settlers, Wm. H. O'Halloran Brewer & Paul Joske,
convinced from earlier experiments in sugar manufacturing conducted in
Fiji, established the first sugar mill in the islands in 1872. They
produced small quantities of crystallized sugar which they sold for 5d
per pound and eventually scaled up production shipping ten tons to
Australi a
in April 1874. The soil conditions in Suva proved unsuitable to maintain
production and the venture struggled on for a few years closing in 1875. The pair had reputedly
invested £30,000 in the venture, an enormous sum at that time. Brewer distraught from the experience committed suicide. Joske started a new unrelated firm.
Brewer & Joske's experience dampened others from starting new sugar production for some
time. Some years later, with the help of the new government in Fiji, the Colonial Sugar
Refining Co. Ltd. of Sydney, Australia setup a large successful sugar mill which by 1900
employed over 7000 men, mostly indentured East Indians. Sugar became Fiji's most important industry
and remains a chief export today. The indentured Indians were given an option of
obtaining permanent residency and a small plot of land in exchange for working without pay. Many accepted this opportunity as the conditions in India
were not very attractive at the time. Ethnic East Indians now outnumber native Fijians, a
situation which has caused political problems in recent years.
Little is known of these notes, although they were apparently the first issues
emanating from the current capital of Suva. Fiji Treasury notes,
Bolivian Dollars, German Thalers along with many other types of foreign coins
and currencies circulated. Hastily scrawled I.O.U's were also issued by
merchants and circulated as currency. In an 1872 Brewer & Joske newspaper ad for the sale of
general merchandise, payment was accepted in "beach currency (which may
have included their notes), Gold and Treasury Notes taken at par". At the time
many other Fiji merchants were discounting Fiji Treasury notes up to 20% because
of the instability of the government. On 23 July 1872 King Ratu Sera Cakobau issued
"An Act to Establish and Define Legal Tender of Money in Fiji" which
offered to exchange Treasury Notes for gold or silver or 10% Treasury
Debentures.
An August 23, 1873 Notice published by F.C. Hedemann in Levuka stated
"As the GOVERNMENT
are not able TO CASH THEIR NOTES I consider the GOVERNMENT NOTES (the
LEGAL TENDER) from and after this date are NOT TAKEN in my Stores
Or ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION".
The financial situation in Fiji remained precarious and it was
reported that by 1874, Treasury notes were being discounted up to 40%. A
subsequent government act (XXII) made any legally issued gold or silver coin of
any country legal tender in Fiji.
Brewer & Joske, probably intended to finance their various ventures with these
issues, however no evidence exists of any backing or that the notes were
officially released. Some probably slipped into use, along with other
contemporary "foreign" currencies accepted in Fiji at the
time. It is more likely that they were used as store chits at the
Brewer & Joske Sugar Mills since only one note has surfaced with a
questionable signature.
Notes have been found with values of ¼ Dollar, 1 Dollar, 2
½ Dollars
and 1 Pound. Several are pictured by ** Rogers & Cantrell in their 1989 book, Paper Money of Fiji I, published
by the
International Bank Note Society. Examples shown in the book are from
The Fiji National Archives, the Fiji Museum and private collections. All of the notes I examined at
the Fiji museum show severe signs of the tropical climate. I know of only
one note with a
signature, a 1/4 Dollar, but the signature appears fraudulent. All other notes are found without
signatures. Very few pieces ever come on the
market and all are rare with the 1/4 Dollar being very rare.
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Fiji Brewer & Joske Sugar Mills - Private Issues
Ca. 1871-75 
