THE FIJI ISLANDS.

Grey River Argus, Issue 74, 3 July 1866, Page 3

THE FIJI ISLANDS.

The following ( letter has been; received, by a resident in Lawrence, Otago,'"frbm' H.M. Consul at the Fiji Islands, in reply to a communication requesting information about these islands : — " ' ! " British Consulate, , " Fiji, March, 25, 1866. " Sik, — I am in receipt of your letter, dated 25th November last, and I have v . much pleasure in giving you the information - tion you desire. , „;•.;..,!, •* «,t V ■■■^ : tnti''n^i'place > >! nbwever,'''-y6u'nius£ l . ; bear in mind that the Fiji has only very l^^jjrecently bec6me eligible for, white coldnirtfp%»tion, as heretofore' 'tiie ? cliarafeter of the inhabitants, both black andwliite, was of y^^keyery worst descriptibu. Now, however, life and property are secure, and a ' - .'steady flow of immigration from the colonies gives our community a good . • chance of advancement and prosperity. 1 ■ • ' " mention this ; in order thatj you iuay^nots expect to find here a higher, degree'ofrefinement and civilization than really l_ "exista. We have very few idlers here ; I " : ""^ ||^ Yh'iiiii'i '" " 'I' '* 'j' ' ' l I ' IIMI Il ' 1 "1 u^ X' (( Pori Levuka, in the Island of Ovalau, K_; is the centre of Fijian trade, and the resi--I||' dence of the Consuls. Its population |S| may consist of one hundred whites, and about five hundred natives. The principal ip v trades. are established here. ■ „ _ sMi* : would recommend you, however; r tp your attention- to the cultivatiSn of arid tobacco Little previous. s§^|t knowledge is required for the .cultivation p?; '(jf'this staple. You can leani ali ab'but'it #6m the planters hero.- Bring plenty of W'^fiea Island Seed, as it is v the most pro?t,v, fitable crop. Kidney. , seed we, have pfi. plenty of^ '" * ' '-■'•' : ''■■-.' £•''■.-. can be bought without diffi- 1 culty. V Best quality, a* dollar per acre. '■■ your, community need not be separated s from another. ■ ■***" " : ."Trade .most in demand here is as :-rr-Muskets (cheap), axes (Ameribench axes (American)* butchers' rif?|lnrives (largest sizes), coiton prints (dark "^ufcolored preferred), vermillion beads (small "?% ; | white Venetian), shirts (colored and "l^^rimean), red blankets, fish hooks, hoeß ~Wm&i& small spades are very usefuPin the Implantations. I^W? *VBring a good cotton gin, and, if pospress, saw gins preferred. Bring whale-bbat ;* nothing can be f^^ielbere without one. Bring aB much > on^P^|d iron as will roof /your cotton " or^ er secure its being fire- ' ',^otcmr other queries I answer categori- ■ "Bring a good team of bullocks, ploughs, cultivators, or horse hoes; bulf . "iocka.jtan.be had here at L3O per pair, unr broken! ■--—--— -..«, T^ 'l^Tna, pheep and ( cattle owners refuse to Be^fineif stock as 'yet. : ; ' : ' '' J ' ' " Ironmongery to be had at the stores, but expensive. -.. ;i ., , " Boots and shoes must be very strong, with thick projecting soles, on account of the sharp coral ; canvas (strong), with screwed soles, best description for the ► ■ island. -.^_., »..„..-._..^^fe. — .^^.^ ............ „...': - " Drapery and tinware to be had at the Htorea ; price'high./ ■ ■■■■ '"f f ''" " Several carpenters and blacksmiths in great demand ;. wages, 12s per diem. — '-Cotton; coffee, sugary arid- tobacco, ***}'■ sheep, and cattle . succeed ... admirably. Fijian wool has brought 2s per lb' i© the Australian market. ;'■ Large tracks of pas- & titre land, especially adapted for cattle, WL abound throughout the islarid: ; --'"■• 3aj|. "There is at present a day school, but schoohnistress is leaving for Sydney. is an operiibg here 1 for a woirian- df to succeed her.; jjjcpme, about tijM^J^^Eper annum. " ■ ■ • IP^^rbrk, 2d per lb | mutton; -Yb 6d the r yjy^^fer ; beef, 6d per lb ; fp^ls, 6d. f each, :.^^Hfebles — Yams, taros, sweet potatoes, J|fl^Khiit, cawais, arid bananas, "■ /■^^Ritton is mps.tprofita.blei ---:•-"- r^^^Kbout 350 wliites— Europeans and . -Jsj^Rpang , Native population yaripTtisly ' '"^■BKted ; probably ; / ' f\^^Kysentery appears from time to time. iJ^Hpatiyes aye subject '■■'• \q .;, ciitaiiwoii^ .

|dlsease3. Fever and ague is quite un- s knpwn. The climate is exceedingly pleasant, and very healthy. ' ' A'hative hbiise; Jbuilt of reeds; lean be . easily constructed.' > It lis cool and comfortable, and well adapted, to the climate. The store,.. however,, should bp .built pf slabs", and roofed with iron. "liandiß ! eaßily bought, and good titles given. /It is expedienfcjtp enquire.at.fthe, Consulate as to tile validi^ of the title, as |native chiefs 'frequently sell land that' does not belong to them, and also sell the hind to several parties in succession.- "■ ; is such as'the Consul can give in his official capacity, supported by the annual visit of a man-of-war. ' ' All articles - irequired' in the island trade can, I am informed, .be best procured at the . warehouse : of John Hursch, York street,'near Queen street, ; Sydney/ "In conclusic-n, I ! may- remark' that, although there are some. drawbacks and difficulties to be met with, here, yet there is very little hardship, strictly speaking, arid I think thai'ribwhere A clari an industrious man, ;! with' small' capital^ more speedily ; acquire-a competence with .as little exertion or privation as in Fiji.i „.• - : :#.- ; ■> ' " Your, obedient servant, ; v ; , , . . = \. ,*' Hebtby Jones. ■',"■" "."'V ''.