FIJI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 24, 8 July 1871, Page 3

FIJI.

(Correspondent of the S.M. Hebakd )

Under the superintendence of Lieut. Woods the Manuka passage, which forms the north-eastern entrance or exit from this group, and through which the line of steamers from Australia to San Francisco via Fiji must pass, should this route be permanently adopted, is being surveyed; and a rough survey having been completed previous to the arrival of the City of Melbourne steamer, Lieutenant Woods himself piloted the vessel through the passage. His report is very favorable on the whole, and goes to prove that there is a fine broad strait there sufficient for all purposes. He also disproved the existence of a dangerous rock which was supposed to obstruct the passage. A temporary light has been placed on the island of Larceula, which commands the entrance to the straits, and also two lights to mark the entrance into Levuka.

Formerly the Protestant community had to be content with one small wooden church, the service being conducted by the Wesleyans, who, however, very kindly gave the English service alternately with the Wesleyan. Now we have a fine stone church (Wesleyan), and a very commodious and well constructed Lnglish church, at which the Rev Mr Floyd, from Melbourne, officiates. The Roman Catholic community have also had a fine church open for a long time back, with a very sweet peal of bells.

The " Fiji Times" of the 24th May sa y S : —King Thakombau has appointed a sanitary commission to consider and report upon the best means for carrying out a system of drainage and other necessary works, the expenses of which are to be met by the levy of a rate on municipal principles. A protest appears in the " Times," signed by G. Ilennings and eight other Europeans, against the conduct of the captain of the America, who refused assistance to the cutter Midnight, when in distress, and which vessel was afterwards wrecked. There were ten white men and two natives on board at the time.

Continued satisfaction is expressed at the establishment of the Australian and Californian mail steamer line via Fiji; and hopes of subsidies being granted by the colonies are expressed in the journal. On last Monday, the 15 th May, a

fight occurred at Rukuruku(back of Ovalau) between a party of Thakombau's men and Lovonis. The Lovonis were within the fortifications of a town on a hill, and the royal troops marched to an eminence for the purpose of firing into the town and dislodging the enemy if possible. After spending considerable time and wasting a lot of ammunition without being any nearer the desired object than when they first commenced, the main body of the assailants drew off, leaving a few stragglers behind, who continued firing at the town. When the Lovoni men saw how things were, they despatched a force to go round the hill and cut off the few of their assailants who were continuing their fusil&de quite unconscious of danger near. The Lovonis fell on them unawares, and overpowered them by weight of numbers, killing four and mortally wounding one. In the struggle the Lovonis lost one man killed and one wounded.