AFFAIRS IN SUVA

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 826, 26 February 1903, Page 4

AFFAIRS IN SUVA

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, last night,

Mr J. Cleary, a prominent merchant of Suva, interviewed, stated that he left Suva three weeks ago. He conversed with Namosi, the head chief of a thousand natives, who complained that the people were neglected by the Wesleyan minister, whose neglect they resented. The outcome was an invitation to Father Bangieo to assume the pastorship. He accopted, and tho whole tribe embraced the Catholic faith. No Wesleyan Bibles were burned at the time Cleary left, and he believes the story to be a fabrication.

Some Otago merchants have ceased importing rice owing to the decrease in its consumption. This is supposed to be due in some measure to the stoppage of Chineso immigration, The blue duck, otherwise known as the mountain duck, or whistler (native wliio), is now absolutely protected.

At, Tamworlh, New South Wales, ten local hotelkeepers have been lined two pounds ten shillings each for neglecting to deface the excise stamps on lieer casks. •Sometime ago a farmer at Hey field, Victoria, was lined for dehorning cattle The ease was argued on appeal before the Full Court, widen upheld the decision.; The hulk of ihe farmers in the Gernianton districts. New South Wales, have stripped what wheat they had, which ran from half a bushel to six bushels to the acre. The Maslcrton Fire Brigade resigns in a body on March twenty-fourth if tlie Boroush Council docs not appoint the captain of the brigade lne inspector and define a boundary. The news of (he reception of the loir has a most serious aspect for ourselves. The amount of money now being expended on public works is by no means large. .Still, there are works going on all over the colony which can scarcely be brought to a .sudden stop without injurious consequences for many. The Premier has just bold us that last, session the “ sum of two million two hundred tlnusaml pounds was placed on the Public Works Kstimates, and that that- was as much as eight hundred thousand people in any part of the v.orld could stand.’’ That amount has certainly not been spent.but what will be the effect of a stoppage or even a great curtailment of expenditure ?—Auckland Herald,