FIJI.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 110, 14 April 1871, Page 3

FIJI.

A volunteer corps has been formed at Levuka. The corps will be armed with Snidera, and will wear a uniform consisting of white trousers, blue serge jacket with straight front, open round the neck, and military cap with white cover.

A chur th is about to be erected at Levuka by the Episcopalians. A Masonic lodge has also been formed there. At a meeting of merchants and others the following resolutions were carried: '* That this meeting is of opinion that when it has been decided for mail steamers to call at Fiji, and the immediate route fixed, the inhabitants of the Group guaranteo £IOOO, or such proportion as would be required as a fair contribution towards the necessary surveys, and lights for ingress and egress to and from the Group, it being understood that the harbor of Levuka will be lighted shortly without reference to this. That in furtherance of the first resolution, a committee of gentlemen be appointed to carry out the objects before the departure of Mr. James Patterson; committee to consist of Messrs. Hennings, S. C. Burt, j. Towson, and the mover." Mr. Turner moved, and Mr Levy seconded " That this meeting authorises Capt. Moore to procure two lights for the harbor of Levuka, at a cost of say £3O, the same to be paid for on arrival by public subscription."

Oil the night of Tuesday the 1-lth ult. all the Levoni fighting men slept together at the chief town of their tribe, and earlj in the morning made their descent upon the coast town of Tokalau. They came along two different spurs of the hills, and took the Tokalau natives by surprise. They hastened to their fortification*, but 12 were killed, chiefly women and old men, who were not quick enough in their movements to make good their escape. All the houses outside the fortifications were burnt, including the native teacher's house and the native church. The Levoni oeople, after-the sl'?,!i<.?h f er,d" igjjsrl the canoes of r.heir euemieH into the water, and taking with them their own wounded, went home by way of Naituvafcuva. Wc hear from Levoni that eight of their party are likely to die, or have already died, from gunshot wounds. The Levoni tribes <:*n muster <soo fight-

ng men ; they arc all armed, and renowned as the best native in Fiji. Cakobau witnessed the burning of the town from the deck of hU vessel, the Jennie Duncan, and in now taking steps to subjugate the rebellious Levoni people. All the towns in the Qua!ivaka Bau and Quali-vaka-Levuka are putting up war fences, and it will probably be the last time they will have to do no on Ovalau. The Levoni native? have never been thoroughly subdued, Mid it in hoped that Cakobau will now put them down—and then put his foot upon them and keep (hern down. The whites in Levuka have nothing to be alarmed about in this disiurba!/,•<;. A: little caution may be necessary because of the Babi-kadi who prowl about secretly in the night, entering houses to kill the sleepers. The Levoni people urv. reriowuei -nuong the native tribes for the de.ct» rii v with which they can do the work of Babi-kadi ; and any house in Levuka with aa open door may be visited du"ing the night by the prowling night hounds. Maafu, the Tui Lau, has formed a standing army at Lakoba, under the generalship of Ins son, Prince Charles. The soldiers are well armed. They aro enthusiastic in playing at soldiers after the white man's fashion. —' Fiji Times.'