FIJI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1557, 10 March 1874, Page 142

FIJI.

[Per Star of the South, via Auckland.] The Macgregor still Aground.—The Star of the South called at Kandavau on her return from Levuka, and found the Macgregor still on the reef, with ten feet of water in one of the forward compartments. H.M.S. Pearl had made two unsuccessful attempts to tow her off, and is still anchored by her« The divers from the Pearl have been engaged iti cutting away the reef from under the Macgregor. She has been lightened considerably, but it is not expected that she will be got off. ; ' . Anticipated Annexation*—The Star's correspondent writing from Levuka on March 2nd, says that the annexation of .the Fijis to the British Crown, is now counted on as certain. The natives are all favorable. The Commodore is residing at the Royal residence at Bau, where all the chiefs are congregated, and where the terms of annexation are being agreed upon. The Murderers of the Banks family have been sentenced to death on a verdict of a native jury. The Chief Justice recommended them to mercy, and it is said the King might possibly spare their lives. AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. SYDNEY. 28th February. Parliament is now sitting, but business is unimportant. The Strike in the iron trade still continues. The large orders for machinery are in the meanwhile sent elsewhere for execution. The Leichardt Story .—Hume reiterates his story about Leichardt's remains, and says the relics were stolen from him, which nobody believes. The Palmer River Rush is over. All are returning; many are dying from starvation and exhaustion on their way ; the township is deserted, and the rivers are flooded. There has been heavy rain during the week. MELBOURNE. 28th February. Parliament is to be dissolved on the 9th March. Bishop Perry left for Europe by the mail steamer. Addresses were previously presented to him. Bishop Tuffnell, of Brisbane, has also proceeded to England, and will not return. The Suspected Assassination.-At the .adjourned inquest on the body of Reynolds, nothing further was elicited as to wh 0 sent the explosive material, and it is now believed that the deceased was experimenting on explosive compounds. The All England won the cricket match against the Victorians by seven wickets. The match excited no interest. Grace then batted agaiust eleven in the field, and scored 126. The Eleven have since played at Launceston, and made 247 in one innings. After playing at Hobart Town, the eleven will return here, and play a final match, The public are heartily tired of cricket. Four members of the Government recently visited Maryborough, to be present at the 'urnicg of the first sod for the railway,

Obituary.— The Rev. P. S. Menzies, the. popular Presbyteriau Minister, has died of consumption, and his loss is much regretted.: There was a large funeral. . The New Guinea Colonization Soheme is progressing. The promoters iniend to ask for a cession of 1(1,000 acres from the natives. At the laying of the foundation stone of the Foundation School, Mr Stephen made a speech on the success of the Education Act. , ' ADELAIDE. - '■ '.,... 28th February. Murders by the Blacks.— An attack was made'by the blacks on Burrows creek telegraph station on Sunday evening, when the staff were ail outside enjoying a smoke. Stapleton, the telegraph master, and Frank, the lin emau, were killed. Flint, a n operator' and a black boy were seriously injured. The next day the .natives reappeared in force, were fired at, and one killed. Since then reinforcements have been sent to that, and all the stations on the overland lino. Further Explorations.—Mr Elder has despatched and equipped an expedition to Perth, Western Australia, to explore the country passed over by Warburton.