The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4002, 22 December 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1876.

Lave at present among ns some visitors from the Fiji Islands, who brought with them samples of excellent sugar, the produce of the islands, a short notice of which was given in the Evening Star a few evenings back. Notwithstanding its proximity to New Zealand Fiji seems to be almost an unknown land to the merchants of Dunedin. There was some triflin" : trade done with the Colony a few years . back, but it dwindled down to nothing, : and seems now to have completely died out. The reason for this may be that i first efforts of the planters in Fiji | woio directed to the growth of cotton, at that time in great demand at Home i through the ruin of the plantations in [ the Southern States of America. For j some reason that we do not feel competent to give an opinion upon, the cotton of Fiji does not command the same | comparative high price in Europe that it did at one time, and it has therefore j been found advisable by the planters to ; g* ve attention to the growth of sugar, I coffee, and other tropical productions. So long as cotton was the chief article ot export there was a barrier to forming a payable . mercantile connection between New Zealand and Fiji. Although admirably placed for supplying the inhabitants of countries that border and stud the basin of the Pacific with manufactures, our time has not yet come, Wo have coal and iron, but no population to employ in weaving raw material into textile fabrics. Our minerals are latexrt powers—mines of wealth waiting for development. Having, thereloro, nothing to take in exchange for what we could supply the planters with, whatever was sent thither had to be paid for in cash or bills at short dates, and. us is the case in all early settlements, this necessarily limited trade. Dunedin was nor the shortest road, so far as time is concerned. by which to semi I heir produce to (..treat Initain, li might, and would have been convenient to the trade of this port to have had the means of loading vessels rapidly with return cargoes. Such an arrangement would have tended to reduce freights, and 'o place our merchants on a better fuoti,, ' r com ! mreJ with those of Melbourne '* K . VI W tll^n tl ' e y oven how stand oa. ‘ratio might, however, be s.n.l t,.' !M1 , t0 , lwvc °,‘ ,1 ' V through the cavllfc.' sta ge, ami ns tlfb Colony of Fiji was an o. _

Victoria, it was natural that tbe first I exports should be through that channel. I Since then efforts have been made by New South Wales and Auckland to secure the Fijian trade ; and Dunedin, although more favorably situated than either for supplying the peculiar class of products required in Fiji, seems likely to be left in the cold, unless some energetic steps are taken to establish a profitable connection. As sugar and coffee will most probably be the*main products of Fiji, it is plain that there is a market here for them if they can be had on equally easy terms with those of other countries. The question for us to consider is what advantages wo havojto offer on our side. So far as Auckland is concerned wo pointed out in a former article that cereals, the produce of the South Island, were sent to Auckland, landed, reshipped, and forwarded to Fiji, notwithstanding the additional charges added to their cost by these intermediate processes. So far as those products are concerned, therefore, there is an immediate profit to be realised by direct communication; for no other Colony can favorably corapetojj with Southern New Zealand in them. In other produce too, with proper care and attention, our advantages should command the trade. Salted meats are almost a necessity. We believe there have been shipments of Otagan salted provisions sent thither, but through some defect in the preparation of the pickle they hav« not been found to keep so well as the salted provisions of hotter climates. Whether this has been the result ef carelessness or of some peculiarity in the mode of salting requires to be discovered. With fine pasture like that of Otago, and healthy stock, this cannot be an insurmountable difficulty. So far as luxuries are concerned, the beers of Otago would inevitably find great favor, for it is impossible for the hotter Colonies, or the hotter parts of New Zealand, to compete with us in the manufacture of fermented liquors. In these articles only, Fiji presents a ready and increasing market. We believe, in improving tlm quality of sugar, there is a little difficulty there that the investment of a few thousands would enable the planters to overcome, and which would be easily surmounted with the assistance of Dunedin. "While the gentlemen of whom we have spoken are here, we think it highly desirable that advantage should be taken to ascertain from them the prospects of opening up mercantile communication with Fiji j for the investment of a trifling sum in sugar works—not nearly so muc has has been' thrown away frequently on a single gold mine—may lead to industry and widening results. It is a matter falling peculiarly within the province of the Chamber of Commerce, and we trust will command their immediate attention.