FIJI NEWS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 241, 18 March 1875, Page 3

FIJI NEWS.

By the arrival of the Daphne on March 4th from Levuka, the New Zealand, Herald of February 19th has files of Fiji papers to the 19th February, from which the following extracts are taken : The schooner Daphne brought on to Levuka the labor which was cast by the wreck of the Hallie Jackson on the New Hebrides Islands. Nearly all the Solomau natives were found, on the arrival of the Daphne, to be down with this island disease, in company with all the white men on the different plantations of the settlement at Havannah Harbor. Several of the natives have succumbed. One man came on board with symptoms of fever on him. He was quiet, and apparently harmless up to the time of his arrival in Levuka. when, without any accountable reason, he cut down with an axe, picked from the deck of the vessel, one of his fellow passengers, his mind being affected by the action of the disease, and his mutilated victim is now receiving treatment in the Levuka Hospital. We are sorry to have to report that measles has entered our usually healthy town, and is commencing to lay many of the young folks up, for they appear to be the most susceptible to this disease. But with the skill of our medical men and the ordinary geniality of our climate, we hope to pull through without having to chronicle any casualties. The patients suffering from measles at Nasova are recovering, but the disease having taken such a firm hold of the natives, it will be some time ere it entirely disappears. Heavy rains and squalls have passed over Levuka during the last few days. Yesterday morning looked very threatening, and a bit of a blow was expected, but it cleared away and a downfall of rain was succeeded by sunshine. Sandalwood is becoming an important Ktem of export from the group; we find several tons have recently been shipped, Sydney forming the chief market for this decorative and highly perfumed article so useful to cabinetmakers.

Several thunderstorms have recently passed over Levuka, but the peals were distant and the lightning not particularly vivid; they were all attended by heavy rain, which by reason of our present defective sewage may be considered a boon.

Messrs Brewer and Manuelle have entered into partnership for the purpose of undertaking the chief part in the New Zealand trade.

Tenders have been called for the erection of a Good Templar’s hall in Levuka. A sample of coal has been left at the Times office, as found on Reece’s plantation, on the Eewa. It is evidently the outcrop, and it bears such remarkably good indications that at lower levels we opine a very good seam will be found. It has been tried in a furnace, burns well, and leaves a white ash.

Referring to the recent hurricane at Fiji, the Ra Coast correspondent of the Argus writes:—“ This portion of the group appears to be particularly favored in this respect, having participated in every one visiting the islands for the last eight years. There is scarcely a bread fruit tree standing, unless in a very sheltered situation, and the few cocoanuts we have suffered severely. Can you, Mr Editor, explain how it is, unless we have been having more than an average number of hurricanes of late years, that there are any trees in the western half of Fiji over twelve feet high, for all the many thousands 1 myself have planted; never exceed that height before they are flattened, and I do not hear my experience is singular ? Woods and Burnes have lost by flood and wind together forty acres of cane, some of it ready for the mill; Jones, ditto, four acres of tobacco, besides a large quantity in the house; Cooper, ‘the immortal pea-nut,’ several hundred bushels of maize; and Leefe, about ninety acres of cotton of various sorts, which, however, does not appear to distress him much, and he moans more over his fruit trees; not so, however, the pigs, who would like a hurricane about once a month.”

Several meetings have lately been held in Levuka to make arrangements to have Fiji properly represented at the forthcoming Exhibition at Sydney. It is believed that the islands produce a vast number of articles which, if properly known in Australia and New Zealand, would tend largely to increase the trade of Fiji. At one of the meetings Dr Patterson said that as an old botanist, he had done something towards advancing the science in New South Wales, and at the Intercolonial Exhibition of 1869, he had received three medals at the hands of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, He would be happy to give his services towards the collection for transmission to Sydney of indigenous botanical plants. The thanks of the meeting were given to Dr Patterson for his offer, and the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to collect articles to be forwarded to the Exhibition ;—Mr Garrick, Dr Patterson, Messrs G. Smith, Hetheriugton, Griffiths, Ryder, Thomas, Scott, Levy, Brodziak, Forwood, Wecker, and Tuscott. A subscription list was opened to defray the expenses, and a sum of £3O, at once collected.