LATEST FROM FIJI.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 85, 8 September 1874, Page 3

LATEST FROM FIJI.

[From the New Zealand Herald .] WRECK OP FRENCH MAN-O’-WAR. Our Fiji correspondent, under date 29tb July, informs us of the fact that the French man-o’-war L’Hermit was on shore at Wallis Island, and that H.M.S. Dido had proceeded there to render assistance. We now learn, by later Fiji papers to hand per Cyphrenes from Kandayu, that H.M.S. Dido had returned to Levuka. The vessel on shore is described of 1200 tons, with a complement of 150 men, and under the command of Captain Meit. She went on shore under steam whilst entering the passage on the 29th June. As previously stated, she was bound from Samoa to Wallis Island to land the Roman Catholic Bishop, who was on a tour round the different mission stations. She was observed ashore by Captain Wood on the 12th July, on the previous trip of the Cyphrenes. She is now reported as a total wreck. All the crew were landed as soon as possible after she took the reef, except two unfortunates who were drowned. A whaleboat was despatched to “ pick up” a vessel to convey the crew away, and at Fortuna the assistance of the German barque San Francisco was hired to convey half the shipwrecked to New Caledonia, when a French vessel will be sent down to take the remainder. The L’Hermit is a wooden ship, and left France some ten months since on a voyage in the Pacific, Was last at Samoa, and, after her visit to Wallis Island, was to have come on to Fiji. It would seem the “indemnity” demanded by the skipper of the San Francisco to convey the crew to New Caledonia was the moderate sum of 200,000 francs. However, it was eventually decided that the owner of the vessel should name the sum to be paid when communicated with. H.M.S, CHALLENGER. H.M.S. Challenger, which arrived at Levuka on July 28th, proceeded shortly after to Kandavu to survey the harbor. She |was accompanied by Mr Consul Layard. Having completed her survey, she left on the 10th Aqgust, on a visit to other islands in the South Seas for scientific purposes. During her short stay in Levuka the officers were busy in exploring the place and such adjacent parts of the island as the limited time at their disposal permitted. They have also taken photographs of the chief points of interest, and have evidently not omitted any opportunity to make themselves acquainted with any matters likely to prove of benefit to the country. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. H.M.S Dido and H.M. gunboat Eenard were at Kandavu at the same time as the Challenger, and left for Levuka on the 11th instant. The account of the sugar crop from allparts is highly satisfactory. Complaints have been made of barbarity shown to a number of natives taken from Beqa, and sold to Windward planters at three pounds a head more than three years ago, and which are now refused to be returned. Much dissatisfaction is expressed at the withdrawal of the mail service from Kandavu. Stores were in course of erection, and a settlement springing up when intelligence was received from Sydney that the boats would proceed direct to Auckland for

a time. As a consequence all work is stopped. Several passengers who had booked to Sydney by the Cyphrenes are compelled to proceed to Auckland in order to reach their destination. A number of traders at fjovuka purpose purchasing a steam launch for trading amongst the islands. A report comes from one of the smaller islandso? the loss of a nativ< canoe, which capsized on a coral reef in a squall, drowning three natives. Four others were enabled to swim ashore. An association of sugar-planters is about to be formed. The R.M.S. Mikado arrived at Kandavu from Sydney, after a passage of six days fifteen hours (under contract time). She experienced for the first three days a strong W. and S.W. gale with high sea. Thence light head winds and fine weather until arrival. Captain Moore expects to reach San Francisco on the 20th August (two days before time). She will leave San Francisco on the 12th September, proceed to Honolulu, and then direct to Auckland.