LATEST FIJI NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4931, 11 January 1877, Page 7

LATEST FIJI NEWS.

(BY TELEGRAPH.) Auckland, December 17. Arrived, from Levuka, the Jessie Henderson, schooner. She brings news to the 29th November. Governor Gordon delivered an important speech at Vuna on the 23rd, in which he reviewed the. condition and prospects of the colony. After observing that he had been right in warning theni not to expect an immediate improvement after the establishment of the new form of.government, he added that he fully expected during the next year the tide would turn and happier days would commence. In spite of all drawbacks the estimates of revenue and expenditure would be nearly realised. The amount received under the Native Taxes Ordinance had been much larger than ever before, and had been less expensively collected. ; In reference to the larids titles inquiry, ■ complaints had been made of the slowness with which the work of the commissioners was performed. He thought the complaints were exaggerated, for the commissioners had worked zealously, and had decided over three hundred cases in as many days. He had expected better progress, and would promise to do all in his power to stimulate their exertions, A great deal of unmeaning language had been used respecting the Ordinance, which provided that all sums advanced by the Grown for labofirs’ wages and passage 'money should be made a first charge on the lands on account of which it had been incurred. He called attention to. the unreasonableness of the dissatisfaction at Government imposing its own terms in regard to loans which it was under no obligation to advance ; and besides, Sir H. Robinson had publicly notified, such-an intention soon afterthe’islands became. a Crdwn A large ■portion of the address was devoted to the difficulties attending 'getting labor. Both coolies and Polynesians, although, suitable,--were too expensive, and Fijian labor, . while in any case insufficient- •in “amount, was further restricted by social and political considerations, which forbade depopulating the country districts. He proposed to ask the sanction of the Imperial Govemriient to raise a loan, to be applied partly to the in--troduction of immigrant labor and partly to advances to ; facilitate agricultural operations and to establish sugar manufacture on sound principles and a large scale. As to the question of * where the seat of Government should be, four localities had been submitted to the Imperial Government—Levuka, Suva, Savu Savu, and Nadi. He believed the choice would rest between the first three. In conclusion, he said his policy was one which re-; garded the. colony and its inhabitants as a whole, and as such was likely to seem tame' and cold to those whose thoughts hopes and passions were engaged in one particular object. He. hoped that the planters and settlers would take every opportunity of personally conferring with him on matters of importance to the colony.