THE CIVIL SERVICE IN FIJI.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1146, 1 April 1872, Page 4

THE CIVIL SERVICE IN FIJI.

.A Fiji correspondent of a Melbourne paper writes: — . At no time siace the first settlement of white persons in' these islands has there prevailed such a sense of insecurity as that which now exists. Day by day the diacontent grows stronger against the rulers, who, in spite of all entreaties, more and more prominently expressed, still retain the reins of power, and seemingly are determined to initiate for the white residents an abominable system of oppression and espionage of the greatest intolerance. Dissatisfaction is the prevailing theme, abuse of the men who are dubbed "Ministers," and those whose misfortune it is to become Government employes, are censured itt no measured terms by all and overy one with whom they come in contact. In many instances the Civil Servants are finding their quarter* very warm. On Saturday, one of the Civil Servants, who prides himself upon his pugilistic prowess, came to grief. In a drunken: brawl, at an hotel on the beach at midnight, he was ready to fight with all and singular ; and in an encounter with " SavuSavu Smith" received a dislocation of the right 1 elbow joint. Nice amusement, your readers will think, for a Civil Servant. However, of that stamp aro our .officials composed. This afforded practice for tho doctors, and it is reported that the gentleman is doing welL-uhdor-the hands of Dr Mitchell. Another disgraccf uLCiyil Servant's fracas took place on Monday night/ at an hotel further along the beach, of which a worthy son of Erin is tho host. This arose is an angry front-of-the T bar altercation—stimulants, at hand, and at the witching hour of night. After moro or loss talk, a free fighfr enaued, which resulted in such severe injuries that, for a time, one life waa despaired of. Hore, you ' may note the happy way Government officials have of Spending their long and wearisome evenings— resorting to the various hotels, of which there is. no lack, for the avowed purpose of fighting anyono who is opposed to the atrocious Government. t People who in wiselyruled countries may have been accustomed to look for, and know that officers of Police Courts and their subordinates aro expected to be peaceful conservators of the public weal, may be somewhat astonished to find that it if to that; section of the community that we look for I riotous conduct during the night. Another valiant ciyij servant armed himself with a revolver on Monday night, and threatened to shoot all who came in his. path. He, however, failed to use .his deadly weapon, notwithstanding that, in the melde, the integuments which surround his bright pair of optical orbs became much discolored from a few -well-directed-blows from the fist of an adversary. All Government officials are armed with the most approed Snider rifles and revolvers of the latest English and American pattern*.