FIJI NEWS,

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5402, 20 July 1878, Page 3

FIJI NEWS,

The N.Z. Ueralci takes the following items from papers to the 26th June The Legislative Council have petitioned the Governor against the employment of Coolies while there is such a largo supply of labor among the native Fijians, and points out that the revenue hau risen from •616,000 in 1875 to an estimated revenue of £60,000 for the present year, and that as ohe-third of the revenue was., raised by a tax upon the natives, the Council thought the supply of labor which the Fijians could give should first be exhausted before employing those from India.

The Fiji Agricultural Society have peti- % tioned the Governor about the investigation, of the land claims, and-urged that greater expedition be shown in the future than has been in the past. The shipwrecked sailors from the barque ‘ Leota, who arrived at Levuka by tho Menschikoff, having lauded here in a destitute condition, were provided for by the Government, who gave them board and lodging until further arrangement could be made. On the 21st June there was no sign of the mail steamer. The general impression at Levuka is that she has met with au accident similar to that which occurred here some Tew trips back—a boiler tube bursting—and therefore causing a detention of several hours. Governor Gordon has been pleased to reduce . the fine of £2OO, imposed by t?>e Stipendiary Magistrate on Captain Amora, of the schooner Esperanza, for breaches of the quarantine and trading, regulations, to a sum of £25. Captain Amora characterises his reception in Fiji and detention in Totoga as an invitation “ to come in out of the wet,’* as tho shark said to the little boy who tumbled overboard. There has been on exhibition, from Mr. W, Ansdell, a sample of tapioca, manufactured by him on his plantation of Nasaga, situated at the ■•junction of the ‘VYainimala and Upper Kewa rivers, about thirty miles above Navuso. The sample has been compared with some of • the imported article, and the comparison is undoubtedly in favor of the local production. Mr. Ansdell has had to contend against most serious difficulties in bringing his enterprise to its present successful issue, as well in obtaining the proper manufacturing and granulating ' machinery, and transporting it to its present remote position, as in tho contention to land . titles, which has proved so great a clog on the energies of many who would otherwise have acquitted themselves creditably.