NOTES FROM FIJI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 845, 19 October 1870, Page 3

NOTES FROM FIJI.

[CORRESPONDENT OT DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS.] There are about ten public-houses here, and the population of white people is about 300. With regard to the kind of goods to be brought here, I would recommend large-sized American axes, common hatchets, sheath and large knives. Seeoodclass sherry is readily disposed of, as well us gin and brandy.' Whiskey is little used, but almost all kinds of drink are saleble. Bedsteads will meet a ready sale, but not mattresses. A few squatters' necessaries, and in fact a limited quantity of household and hotel furniture, would sell readily, but you must not bring a large stock. Preserved meats, such as lobsters, salmon, herrings, and such like, are much in request in the hotels. Sheep are worth 16s to 20s and scarce at that. The market is glutted with potatoes. Hams and bacon are at all times very saleable, and both are very scarce just now. Galvanised iron, wire, and Ewbank's nails are in demand ; and there is a good opening for all different kinds of boarding timber —you cannot go wrong as to quantity. French lights, French casements, and ordinary sashes may be profitably disposed of. Cheap flashy pictures and ornameuts meet with a ready sale, but I should advise you to depend upon building materials as the staple commodity. Bemember, however, that there is not an immediate market, and that there is no very large demand for anything. Large credit is given to planters here, upon their lodging the grant of their land as a security. Rabone, Feey & Co., and other merchants of Sydney, do all the business here, while Auckland does, comparatively speaking, nothing. Twelve vessels from Sydney and Melbourne come here to the one from Auckland. What can your mercantile men be about? Here is a trade which is always growing larger and more permanent, gradually king absorbed by Sydney ; arid let'ice tell you, when once the men of Sydney get it into their hands firmlyyou may despair of ever getting it oat again. When the connection between Fiji and Sydney becomes knitted together, you may strive in vain to sever it. There are two knights of the hammer here already—J. C. Burt and Otto Cudlip. Burt is Cakobau's private secretary or adviser, and sold his yacht to Cakobau for .£BOO. All small craft coming here are at once taken up to the other islands for labour, and get capital charters. The Merlin was chartered for Jbl2o per month. A small steamer would pay, and \yopd is easily got from the natives. A piece of land when once sold by the rightful owners is never afterwards interfered with. This is a very different thing from what is experienced in New ft'here a man has frequently to pay twice

or three times over for his land. I have heard that Cakobau would purchase a steamer if be could get one, and, as you are aware, a company has been formed to obtain one.