THE STATE OF FIJI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5291, 11 March 1878, Page 3

THE STATE OF FIJI.

The future of .Fiji, notwithstanding the depressing influence of the late severe drought, is certainly sufficiently encouraging to justify the hope that the prediction of Sir Arthur Gordon, that a marked improvement in the prospects of the colony would be apparent before it had been four years under British rule, is fast being realised. The pecuniary assistance which the colony ; has been annually receiving up to the, present time from the Imperial funds will henceforth cease, but fortunately the Government, ‘tor the first time in its history, confidently expect that next year they will be' in apposition * to dispense with the funds thus bestowed. Unless under the influence of an unforeseen combination of calamities, it is believed there will be in future no difficulty in meeting the ordinary annual expenditure. ; It is;true that at first sight the sum set apart fpr, establishments —which this year for the -first time includes £5470 ■ for . the - Governor—seems* unusually - heavy, amounting, as it does, to ho less than £25,000, out of a gross'reybhue' af £59,927, but it is, no doubt, correct‘that in the early stage, of the existence of a Colony' the establishments! are almost-always out of proportion '■ to the revenue. A notable.in--stance is I supplied 1 ‘by the West Indian" colony of Trinidad. Twenty.years,"ago,, the. revenue' of that 1 colony only amounted , to £76,000, and the establishments' cost* 'jg-iB^OP ; 9-, But they .very little ‘ exceedthat amo’unt now, although the re veaue'of'_jh° 1 island amounts to over £300,000. No ,doubt, ■, in, the course of time, history <yfillireppatj itself in Fiji., jit is satisfactory to,observe, that,rail the burdens of taxation do .hot .fall upon, the white, residents.,; The (the, natives are (increasing jyearj.byjy.ear, jjnd,that: without any attempt at severity in the process of collection. In 1875, only £3199 was derived from this source ; in 1876, £9313 ; 1877, £16,000, while, during the present year,

it is| expected the revenue will reach £20,000. The trade of Fiji is also fast ‘developing. The anticipated receipts from the customs alone for 1878 are estimated to exceed £l7,ooo—a sum iu excess of the whole reveriue of the colony during 1875. These , facts-speak eloquently of the advantages inseparable from a firm and intelligent Government.