FIJI.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 337, 20 August 1875, Page 3

FIJI.

A correspondent has furnished ,us with a late letter received from Fiji, from which we ' extract the following interesting particulars:— Docknavatu, 2, IS/5. I have been cotton planting up to. this date with the exception of the short time the war was being carried on here ; but, like all the others, have lost money, in fact the majority have lost all. This is attributable to the great reduction in the price of cotton,,' and also the high, prices of foreign la-, bor. Then communication has been difficult, and the]excessive rates chargedin conveyiug produce to the Home market, ruins all; in fact, afc present prices, it is a failure. Best samples oi sea island cotton are difficult to sell in Levuka at 2k and 3 cents per pound, stained 1 cent. | We had a heavy gale on the 9th of j last month, which completely destroyed all my cotton just as I was'commencing j to pick. The wind blew down my cotton and boat house, arid growing crops. Sugar has been all the go for some time back, especially on the liewa and 'laviuna. The former has been crushing for.-some time, but not with as satisfactory results as was anticipated. Large cane is grown with a heavy yield to the acre, but the per' centage of su-1 gar is hot up to the "mark. There is a great deal still to learn as to the kind of cane best suited to the soil and climate, and much of that planted at first was done at haphazard, without any attention to selection of the most suitable kind. Size Was what was chiefly looked to, and it would appear that this is anything but a judicious guide, as from the fertility of the soil and the excessive moisture of the climate great care has to be exercised to prevent the density of the juice from failing below a certain degree. This can be done by cultivating, a cane of smaller and slower growth; I believe that study and intelligent experiment will ultimately lead to success. I think our quarter will be the sugar ground yet.i I grew a fevv stolls at myhouse, and: at the, time of the gale they /were ten! months old. One of the stolls weighed 150 lbs. of cane, although it was not ripe. "This was equal to 80 tons per ; acre. They alltjvv- I6 ; tons of good cane to yield a ton of.sugar., 1 iir»Yd planted 100 stolls at'the head of the flat, and they remarkably well. Cane is being grown -less or morel, fill over the group ; but the .wlmt of capital and machineiy is the great drawback. "We also-want fresh blood with money to make Fiji go ahead, as the old s.etilers are very /cautious. We expect capital to/flow.in nojy.„,thaL?t.he British flag has been hoisted: 1 could not help feeling-proud when the old flag was KaulecL-up, it tivfe of victories in bygone'years." -V f Many are planting tobacco. Froin 6d. -.tO ;9d. can be got in Levuka for the leaf. Some estimate the yield per acre at 800 lbs., and others at 1200 lbs. It takes"abbut nine months-to grow and prepare it. I believe", the cultivation of tobacco will pay. Most of the • planters are growing maize, -for . which 3s. t0,135./!3d. per bushel in : Levuka;.. : Coffee is paying- well; ! Saluumri died some time ago,' and i nearly his whole tribe. Eatu Ezekie'l" ; sends you his respects. lie is governor of this coast, and makes good and con,firms all the land-he sold. There, can be nothing done in buying or selling till the arrival of the - staff of-' officers ;from Home. The Land Commission fell to the ground. lam afraid those 'cotton factories" they talk "about, in New Zealand will be Tate to. , do" Tany 'good for the present settlers. I think we have ho look to the Victoria or Sydney capitalist for the. development of those factories, your people talk so much abo utV WitJa cotton at so. low. a figure *it'has been ai'source of wonder here that noiie" of the"woolen'factories' have extended their operations in the direction of cotton, instead of import-" ing so largely from--the Home market. 1 It is only a matter of time, but it is t; to ; the Melbourne people we look to for the initiation. Your people seem very lethargic at present. Why don't .some of your Dunediu bagmen give us a call? I suppose your merchants are too busy on the trail" of the big loan at present. After it is all, spent, we may expect «qme of your travellers down. I cannot help feeling thankful: for our fine climate when ; l think.; of-: the freezing process you are subject to sin high latitudes for several months in the year.