LATER FIJI NEWS.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 581, 29 April 1876, Page 4

LATER FIJI NEWS.

By the arrival of H.M.S. Nymphe, from Levuka, we New Zealand Herald, have the Fiji Times of the Bth instant, from which we take the following items :

The beginning of the end is commencing:. A large and powerful tribe in the Kewa district have positively refused to clear the ground intended for the plantation to be started under Government supervision, and have told Mr Wilson, the superintendent, that they are willing to pay their tax in money, as of old, but decline to carry out the orders recently promulgated with respect to the new method of assessment. We do not doubt but that description of moral suasion which borders closely on physical force will be invoked in order to aid the Governmental edict, and that we shall hear that the natives have thought better of the matter ; but we shall look forward anxiously for the result of the crops planted under coercion. The Barracouta brought, as, say enforced, passengers from Samoa, Colonel tfteinberger and aMr Coe. We understand that, upon haviDg been asked whether he would land ic Fiji or proceed to Auckland, the gallant colonel elected to go on to New Zaalaud, so that he might be in a position to communicote by cablegram with his Government, but that he subsequently altered his intention, and has, at least for the present, determined to make Levuka his headquarter.". The officers of the Barracouta speak highly of Colonel Steinberger, who seems to have won their cordial respect. Mr Coe has also resolved to remain here, with his brother in misfortune.

We hear from undoubted authority that the natives living on the Vuna territory, Waimanu Biver, Rewa district, have received a command from Ratu Abel, the Bulli of the province, to send two yams each to him at once ; one for himself and one for.the Go vernor. As they are not the ordinary yams which are thus demanded, but the large size ones, each weighing probably 101 b, the natives, of whom there are some 70.0, seem rather disposed to dispute the imposition We have received information that the contribution so unjustly levied has been paid, and the exaction complied with. The dissatisfaction consequent thereon has not, however, decreased, and the forced trip to and from Bau, the consequence of the levy, has not tended to make it lighter. We trust that the Government will at once order an investigation into the matter, as well in justice to itself as to,the natives, who have thus been imposed upon.