FIJI NEWS.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 556, 30 March 1876, Page 3

FIJI NEWS.

From papers received at Auckland, by the Llewellyn, the New Zealaivl Herald makes the following extrac s : THE SEAT OP GOVERNMENT QUESTION. On the 19oh February a meeting was held at Levuka for " the consideration of memo rialising his Excellency to retain Levuka as the capital of Fiji." Mr Thomas Horton took the chair, and, in opening the meeting, said he was not so narrow-minded as not to believe that at some future time a more preferable site for a capital than Levuka might be found, but at present it was the only town of importance in Fiji, and its interests exceeded those of all other places combined. Would anyone be bettered by the removal of the capital ? No, nearly everyone possessed of property would be almost ruined, find the progress of the country retarded for at least ten years. A memorial was read, the approval of which was moved by Mr Forwood Mr Trnscott seconded the motion. Mr Murray said that Levnka must fall. Pa/ by day people were departing from it. Let them find a place where the poor man could make a home, and keep his garden and his cow. Levuka offered no such advantages. He would move, as an amendment, " That the consideration of the memorial be postponed to that day week." Sir Evans seconded the amendment. Mr J. 0. Smith concurred. It was the better course. After discussion, the amendment was earned by a show of hands. r FIJI AND PACIFIC MAIL SERVICE. The Fiji Times says:—"The question, therefore, naturally arises as to whether, in view of these circumstances, the colony is in a position to undertake a further charge of £SOOO annually, in ordei to secure the de livery of her mails by the present route ; and if not, whether the advantages to be derived from being brought into communication with older countries are sufficient to warrant the imposition of increased taxation to meet the unlooked-for extra outlay. If Fiji be called upon to pay the sum demanded—one altogether disproportionate to her means as compared with those of the other contributories and the advantages which they derive from the service —she will at least have the right to say where her mails shill be lauded, and to fix upon her ports of airival and departure; a r dany variatiou of the terms of contract between the original parties caused thereby must be a matter to be settled by themselves, and one which should not influence those who have to consider the subject on behalf of this colony. Were Fiji not so wretchedly poor, and the taxation so extreme, we imagine that no difficulty would arise as to the determination to be arrived at. Punctuality in commercial transactions is the very life-breath of a trading community, and any and everything that can contribute thereto is to be looked upon as an essential to its existence. But can the money be fairly raised, or will not the inconvenience to be experienced in obtaining it more than counterbalance the advantages to be derived from its utilisation? This is the real obstacle; yet one not wholly insurmountable if the Governor will take a leaf out of Sir Julius Vogel's book, and induce the Home Government to advance to the colony so much as he may consider necessary to aid in carrying out the proposal. If Fiji is ever to be anything, the amount of the loan is too inconsiderable to be worth a thought, while its grant will serve to give this struggling colony at least a place in the great race for

existence, and enable it to maintain a decent footing with its wealthier neighbours. SUPPLYING LIQUOR TO NATIVES. The Ordinance prohibiting the supply of spirituous liquors to Polynesians will be rigidly enfoiced, as intimated on Monday by the Chief Police Magistrate. On that day Mr O'Dcnnell, of the Empire Hotel, appeared on summons to answer two informationsfor supplying two Polynesians employed on the premises with the forbidden "nectar." Mr Scott, who appeared for the defendant, vainly pleaded that his client had from kindly motives refreshed the two natives with a trifling modicum of spirits, commingled largely with water, after an arduous day's labour. One of these men, however, had either succumbed beneath thi3 very mild prescription, or had obtained liquor elsewhere, and was found helplessly drunk. The Bench fined defendant 20s and costs on the first information, and 10s with cost of summons on the second.— F>ji Times. WHY FIJI IS NOT A FREE COUNTRY. Householders labour under an intolerable grievance, inasmuch as they have little or no control over their native servants, their only recourse being at the magisterial Courts. Any dereliction, of duty, or impertinence, the master may not resent by moderate chastisement, as permitted by the law of England in respect to servants and apprentices; and the native not only may, but is encouraged to, lay a charge against his employer should he so much as give the insolent darkey a box on the ear. This isnot as it should be. MISCELLANEOUS, Attention is invited to an advertisement of Mr Witham, announcing that he has for disposal 30,000 coffee trees fit for transplanting. These trees are from seed picked in Ceylon, by Mr E. C. Chippendale, in April last, and planted at Bua on the Ist June, in well selected and suitable soil. They are strong and healthy plants, from 7 to 9 inches in height, and from the moderate figure placed, viz, two shillings per thousand, deliverable at Bua, an opportunity presents itself to those contemplating going into the cultivation of the berry; it is one not likely to occur again for some time to come. Mr Walter Grey, acting sub-lieu ten ant of H;M.S. Nymph, has diad suddenly. He complained, about a fortnight back, of severe pains in the head, but, after two or three days, seemed to be recovering his usual health. A few days ago he was seen to suddenly stagger, and was only saved from falling by one of the seamen who happened to be near. All was done that medical skill could devise, but the unfortunate young man, who was but in his twentieth year, expired on Sunday, the 27th ultimo, from disease of the brain. He was buried on the next day at Vavu, Friendly Islands, where the ship was lying at the time. The service was read by one of the resident Wesleyan missionaries, and a firing party of forty men paid the customary last sad salute over the grave. On Saturday last the ship's armourer, Mr Robinson, also succumbed to an attack of cancer in the stomach, from which he had been long suffering, and was buried at Suva. By the Granada, from Sydney, Mr Nesmith, an officer of the Bank of New South Wales, has arrived from Sydney to ascertain what prospects Fiji offers for the establishment of a branch of the bank in Levuka. We trust that the result of this gentleman's enquiries may prove favourable to the colony. ,