FIJI.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 37, 13 July 1874, Page 3

FIJI.

The Auckland correspondent of the " Otago Daily Times ” writes : —“ By the City of Adelaide we hare Fijian news from Levuka to 10th June. The voyage from Kandavu to Auckland is only four days. Yet so irregular and uncertain is the connection with Levuka from that island that we are a fortnight behind, the distance between the two places being at the furthest eighty miles. It is satisfactory to learn that the contractors for the line intend at once placing a steamer of 400 tons to run between Kandavu and Levuka. Of course she is much larger than would be necessary for that service alone, but it is considered that she will be useful in case of accident to any other of the boats, and temporarily maintain the connection with Auckland. The company arc also laying down buoys in Galsa Harbour, establishing coal depots, and showing other signs of permanent occupation, despite the opinion of Commodore Goodenongh and the accident to the Macgregor; There is, therefore, little prospect of Levuka being substituted as the port of call.

The arrival of the German steamer of war Arcona created considerable stir. Socially, there has been a scries of balls, picnics, and water parties, mailing the stay of the officers agreeable, and delighting the towns people with the excellent band, for which the Arcona is known. Cakobau also went off in state in his large war canoe, and with a large Native following. He was received with 21 guns, and shown over the ship in the most polite manner. A broadside was fired the better to impress him with what conld be done ; but the Fijians are pretty well used to that kind of thing, and as the broadside killed no one, and knocked nothing down, their only reflection would probably be that the white man must be rery rich to be able to waste so much powder. Savages, or rather—to give the Fijians their due—people just emerging from savagery, are never impressed except by visible results ; but they appreciated, at all events, the hospitality of the Germans so plentifully bestowed. Then came the political object of the Arcona’s visit—to bring forward the claims of German subjects for wrongs alleged against the Fijian Government. Private letters, on which 1 can depend, tell me that the aggregate was £IO,OOO, au.ong which the amount claimed by Mr Schole (who was arrested for refusing to pay duties on the ocaasion of the German revolt last year) was £2224 16s 4d. Mr Schule was in gaol only four hours, and fined 10 dollars on the occasion referred to. The amount of damage claimed seems, therefore, slightly ont of proportion to the injury suffered, and the items would be an interesting feature of my. letter if I could supply them ; bft, unfortunately, on that point my information is at fault. It is considered in well-informed circles that the claims have broken down, and that Baron Eiebnitz, the Captain of the Arcona, is not disposed to back them in his representations to the German Government. The Fijian Government is only provisional. The Native branch of the population is represented by JJr Thurston, and the white men by the Consuls, with a settler or two thrown in. It is a haphazard affair, and cannot of course last long, but the German Commander must have been considerably embarrassed by its constitution. It was bard for him to know whom to hold responsible, but, so far as 1 can learn, he fixed chiefly upon Dr .'lhurslou, ao more directly representing the late Go-

vcrnmcnt of the King. I hear also that he was met with great courtesy, but a resolute determination on Cakobau’s part not to apologise or pay, and with the additional request that the Acting German Consul might be reprimanded. So far, therefore, as is publicly known, nothing has resulted from the visit of the German man-of-war, which was looked forward to as likely to prove eventful. The Native force has been operating, under Mr Harding, against the Mountaineers of Yiti Levu. and again inflicted upon them severe loss. The operations are being carried on steadily from the coast, and it is expected that Mr Harding will go right through the Island within three weeks from the last engagement; and, by establishing posts in the bills, effectually prevent any future need of an extensive force to keep the Mountaineers in order. Whatever else may be said of the late Government, it will be felt on all sides that, in subduing these Mountaineers they have done a great work. Any one recalling the terror which the name of the Mountaineers inspired in every island, and seeing now the power of the Lcvuka •tribes destroyed, and the Yiti Leva tribes following suit, will appreciate the incubus from which the country has been relieved. Trouble is apparently in store between the Government and Maafu, who is called upon to pay taxes, and refuses to do so. Maafu lives on the tradition of past exploits. For years after his arrival in Fiji, he sided uniformly with the weaker party, and took bis Tongans to help them. By this means, he was enabled to conquer the stronger and become the master of both. Unsparing to enemies, able and ambitious, and backed by the power of the Tougau people, Maafu was the rival of Cakobau in power, and his superior in education and knowledge of the world. During the last few years affairs have changed. Cakobau now has a large force of disciplined and fairly armed men at command, with white leaders to guide them, and under such circumstances, it. is, I hear, proposed to take high ground, and compel Maafu to pay the taxes raised in his district, which he seems disposed to keep for himself. The present provisional condition of the Government is against such a course, but it is quite clear that something must soon be done by the Imperial Government, and the Islands either annexed or left entirely alone.