THE FIJI ISLANDS.

Southland Times, Issue 1038, 14 October 1868, Page 3

THE FIJI ISLANDS.

(fobin the 'Argus,' 26th Sept.) We have a file of the newly-commenced ' Fijian Weekly News,' a journal which appears very fairly to represent the phases of settlers' life in that little community. From its various items of news we observe that a steam-engine is about to be erected at Kadanu for the purpose of driving cotton-cleaning machinery. The yield of cocoanut oil, the produce of which had been almost lost during the two last years by hurricanes, promises this year to be much greater than usual. We observe notices of erection of a steam saw-mill at Bewa, and of improvement to the baths at Levuka Creek. The islands are said to possess a large and spontaneous supply of arrowroot, which might, with careful cultivation and improvement in its. manufacture, compete favourably in the home market with the best Bermuda samples. The Togan Parliament — whatever kind of a body that may be — had passed a series of resolutions relating to the government of the Togan possessions in Fiji, that are curious on account of the analagies they suggest. Thus we read as the fourth resolution that "it is lawful for Maafu [apparently a Loyal Liberal Chief Secretary or lamb-like Attorney General] to set up and establish any laws and regulations which he may know to be for the good of the Fijian possessions of Toga, even though such laws may not agree in all things with the laws of the Government of Toga." As a contrast to these pleasing evidences of civilisation, and of the spread of correct Liberal views on constitutional matters, we read some scraps of intelligence relative to the native Lotu war, mentioning that the Navosa people called a conference of the warriors of a neighboring tribe, whom they then foil upon with their clubs and killed them all. They then went to the town, and burned it, slaying all the women and children. A dispute of the natives with a settler about some land had led to violence and- bloodshed, one man, named James Maloney, lately from Sydney, being killed by the natives. Such pieces of news as this alternate with statements like the following: — "A grand miscellaneous conpert was given in the Athenaeum on Wednesday evening, the 29th Tilt, by a company of gentlemen amateurs recently arrived." The bachelors of the islands have the cheering prospect of a numerous influx of young women from New Zealand, who, it is said, moved by compassion for their folorn condition, have resolved to come over and look after their domestic arrangements. It is related that the Germans of the islands had applied to the Prussian Government to appoint a consul, and a visit from a Prussian war vessel is spoken of as a probable event. A large number of whales had been visible disporting inside and outside the reef at Levuka, causing a good deal of excitement amongst the natives. Altogether, the little journal gives a very pleasant reflex of the adventurous, romantic life of a small scattered settlement struggling to plant the institutions of civilisation amongst a savage warlike, aboriginal people. And if it is but a little journal, why we read in it of a fac simile of the London ' Times ' of October 3, 1798. '"which," says, the 'Fijian News,' "is a similarly sized paper to the one now in the hands of our readers. What a change has taken place in seventy years." In the next seventy years great ! changes may take place at Fiji.