FIGI ISLANDS.

Southland Times, Volume VI, Issue 495, 15 June 1866, Page 3

FIGI ISLANDS.

In pi-oportion to the extension and development of the Australian colonies does the iniluence of their civilization affect the condition of the races inhabiting the neighboring islands of the Pacific Ocean. For good or ,evil has the spirit of commerce invaded these regions ; and multitudinous though they seem, as the stars iii the Milky Way, there are few among them that are not well known to the traders and whalers of the Southern seas. The outer world, however, gains little j from this knowledge, as a glance at the chart will show the great number of islands, rocks, reefs, and shoak whose position is undetermined, and whose existence is doubtful. In general the masters of the trading vessels are acquainted with the dangers and difficulties of these narrow seas, "but are content to keep tins knowledge for their own guidance, and to allow all rivals to acquire it for themselves in the same hard school of experience. In like manner the condition and prospects of the South Sea trade have been concealed or misrepresented by those interested in retaining this traffic in their own hands, and forcing it to flow in certain channels prescribed by them. The Fiji islands alone during the past year have exported native produce to the amount of £24,175, which is thus accounted for : — Cocoa-nut oil, 500 tons £11,000 Cotton, 500 tons (in seed) ... 9,200 Beche de mer, 50 piculs . . . 1,200 "Wool, 25 bales 400 Tortoise-shells, 7501 b 375 Fibre, 50 tons 1,500 Pigs, timber, fruit, &c 500 £24,175 The Navigators, Tonga, and neighbouring islands, export produce to the amount of about £30,000 yearly. These islands have much to recommend them to the enterprising colonist, the soil, climate, <md situation offering advantages ranrel-r to be found elsewhere, and it is nois eliSLcult to foresee that at no distant period, they will j>rove an additional exaiap.fe of Anglo-Saxon encroachment and restless spirit of adventure. The South Sea lislands should occupy towards New Zealand the same position vfhich the West Indies formerly bore towards Great Britain ; and, with ordinary prudence and forsight, Auckland could be made to hold the relative place of Bristol. Its comparatively central situation, and its vicinity to the best known Polynesian Islands give it advantages possessed by no other trading port in the southern hemisphere. The charge for freight from Fiji to Sydney amounts at present to £4 10s. the ton, and the voyage generally last 3 about eighteen days. This materially lessens the profits of the cotton planter and the oil trader, who would for many reasons prefer sending their produce to Auckland if they were sure of finding purchasers . there. The articles required for the island trade could be procured at equally reasonable prices in Auckland as in Sydney, As the extensive grazing lands in Fiji are gradually occupied by the white settlers, the surplus stock of the New Zealand farmers will find a ready sale there, since the shortness of the voyage will suffer them to be landed with less risk and in better condition than if exported from Sydney or any other port in Australia ; for the same reason, the more perishable articles of island produce, such 'as oranges, bananas, and other fruits, i could more profitably be shipped to New Zealand thau to the other colonies. It is to be hoped that these remarks will meet with attention from those interested in the commercial progress of New Zeal and. When trade has chosen to run in certain channels, it is not always an easy matter to divert it therefrom ; but it is less difficult to do so while the stream is small than when it has already become a rapid river.