FIJI: ITS PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 139, 5 June 1880, Page 2

FIJI: ITS PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS.

As often as they have presented themselves, we have endeavoured to lay lief ore our readers any matter of interest relating to the young colony of Fiji,and not longer ago than 14th February last, a considerable space in this journal was devoted to a report upon the Fijian Court at our International Exhibition. In that report the products of the country were described, and the attention of visitors to the Exhibition was especially directed to three of the staple commodities of commerce, viz., coffee, cotton, and sugar, in all of which it appeared likely that Fiji would excel. Since then the first prize for cotfee, and both first and second prizes for cotton have beeH awarded to Fiji. It is also thought that, but for the inaonei in which it was judged, Fiji would, probably, have received the first prize for sugar. Rut inasmuch as no classification for sugars was made, no distinction drawn between the raw and refined article, the magnificent brewers' crystals of the Kewn Sugar Company were compelled to give place to sugars exhibited by refilling companies. On the whole, however, the young colony has borne away a fair share of laurels. < fur anticipations have been fully justified, and we see every reason to believe that at no distant day a lurgo part of Australasian supplies will be drawn from Fiji. The area of sugar cultivation is annually increasing, the eano now grown being far in excess of the crushing power. Numerous estates have been opened for coffee, anil preparations for further clearing and planting aro going rapidly forward. Cocoa has also been introduced, both under private and Government auspices, and is succeeding well. Cotton is still cultivated by a few planters, who keep entirely to the finest varieties, while the natives grow largo quantities of the coarser sorts. With regard to the finer cottons, it is interesting to observe that Messrs. Ryder, Brothers, who took the first prize for Sea Island cotton at the Philadelphia Exhibition, are also the recipients of the first prizes for Mb cotton and coffee, thus bearing the palm from Coy lon. In addition to those articles tuny lie named copra (the dried kernel of the coooanut), maize, fibre, arrowroot, ginger, and other spices, and, lastly, fruit. At the present moment Fiji may bo desoribed as just emerging from its difficulties. The clouds which so long have overhung the enterprise of its inhabitants are now either drifting away or showing something of a silver lining. At the end of 1K74, the year of cession, the planting interests were moribund ; commerce, resting on an unsound basis, could neither advance nor retreat; things were at a standstill. But there were thoso who believed in tho country, and who hoped nnd struggled oil. There wore others who depended les< upon the unquestionable though Undeveloped resources of the islands than upon the expected advent of tho first Governor. In some way those good people, full of every imaginary want, looked upon the Governor as a dens ox machina, whoso special sphere of duty it was to mnke things pleasant and prosperous all rouud. But, alas! no such miracle was possible; nnd it is not unlikely that upon his arrival the Governor himself discovered he had travelled halfway round the globe to undertake the not very satisfactory tr.sk of limiting brieks without straw. Much grumbling (tlio Briton's birthright' l .was soon ln»ni,<J. and for five

: years it has continued, though with do- • clining volume, and ao doubtless, unless : Fiji no unliko other posseaaiona of the I Crown, it will continue for aye. H nt iwhat changes, notwithstanding, J mvn I taken place! The old haphazard system of business has been abandoned. Among ! petty traders square gin is no longer reIgardod as currency. A well-filled rod ease bearing the imprint of John de Kuyper and Sons, is not now regarded as a legal tender. Silver and gold from Imperial mints have succeeded the worthloss iron money, with the introduction of which into Oceania a certain German firm Ims always been credited. Bonking institutions have established themselves! Courts of law are to be met with in every distriet of the colony, and the relation's of debtor and creditor are now pitoiselv the same as in other parts of heV Majesty's possessions. Willie, therefore there has been a loss of exeifement, which! to those who lived the gamo 'of liazard the oid state of things undoubtedly afforded, tho new state' presents aii unqualified gain to those quieter minds preferring regularity and certainty in their monotary transactions! To judge of the present state of things, rooouiseiuay conveniently behod to figures, and especially to those connected with the imports and exports of the country. Tho imports and exports of the colony for the year ending December, 1876 (15 months after the proclamation of tho Rovnl Charter erecting Fiji into a British colony), amountod in value to £198,264 ■ for the year 1877, to £27-1,749; and for the year 1878, to £329,473 —an increase of £75,485 in the first, and of £55,724 in the second instance. The value of tho trade for tho year 1879 has not yet been made known, but it is believed that the average ratio of increase has been greater still. These results, effected in a young colony containing not more than 23110 settlers of nil sexes and ages, and in tho face of the numerous difficulties which beset all young communities, must speak volumes for the resources of the country and the industry of its people. The principal items of import are, as inav be expected, drapery and hardware. The returns of the last four years show iin average of £30,000 and £15,000 as the value of imports under these heads respectively. Tho exports consist chiellv of copra, cotton, coir fibre, maize, bcclic-dc-mer, pearlshell, and sugar. The t.ital export value of these anil minor articles in the years 1870-7-8 was, respectively, £103,458, £140,893, and £192.805. Not the least interesting fact observable nt the present moment is that the nafciws of Fiji are becoming very largo producer*. The exact amount of their production it is difficult to ascertain ; but the value nt' tho articles paid by them in the form of taxes only during 1879 readied the respectable figure of £'22,514, of which a small portion paid in excess was returnable. As indicative of the nature of the native contribution t*> tbe exports of tho colony in this one fojm only, it is observed that there wore nearly 800 Swns of eoff.'in, 1100 tons of copra, 180 ions of randlellllts, 'JO tons minor products;, and 30,000' bushels of mail* sold to the highest bidder as taxes in kind during last year. Their contribution to the earning or shipping trade of tW colony was, therefore, not less than 2-"AM> tons in the otic twelvemonth, irrespective of the stiii larger amount of produce sold privately to, and shipped by, merchants aim traders. All things considered, there is great hope for Fiji. It.s early difficulties haw been surmounted, and the future is bright with promise. Already there aro 300» acres of land under cultivation with sugar, and tho only bar to further extension is ti«o want of mills. Three moderate-sized mills, made, it is reported, by the eminent firm of Mirloss, Tnit, and Watson, aro now on tho way from England; and next year will see ft considerable increase in tho export of sugar. Two thousand acres of land aro now under crop with coffee, aiid 10,000 acres with cuennnuts; the larger jmit of which, having been planted some years age, is now beginning to yield frcoly. Labour is plentiful, both Polynesians and Indian coolies being obtainable: nt. the Immigration Depot. Tho cost »f this labour inclusive of all expenses, is according to tho rejiort of tho AgentGeneral for Immigration, £lO Ms 8d per annum for Polynesians, and £l3 14s f" r Indians. Tho term of indenture for the for tho former is three, and for the luttc", leu years. Other things boiug equal. Indian is, thorefore, the cheaper labour Communication with tho Austrutj«" eohmios is frequont, steamers leaving both Sydney and Melbourno every twenty-eight days, and two fast nn<l well-found steamers belonging to tW Australian Steam Navigation Company are constantly running within the Group ifself. Until the last month one steam*' did all the work within Fiji; but lj" growing importance of the place and IW intimate connection whioh must an*'. and is arising, between that colouy W™ the other islands of tho Western racing especially Samoa and Tonga, have <>'" cessitated the employment of another ij ni J a larger steamer. One matter which hf retirdcd, and more seriously than }* generally imagined the progress of ' U' nua been the doubt and uncertain'.* regarding tho site of tho future cay"' of the colony. Tho rival places a* Lovuka, upon tho island of Ovalau,«"' Suva, ou tho island of Viti !»<»'"■ would encroach too'inuoh on our spa** enter into a consideration of ttow* v * tages claimed for eithur ploco. w|": o ,y they mny be, tho fact remains tl,rtt , u f Imperial Government has appro**•' Suva as tho sito of tho capital, am' Kxeelloncy Sir Arthur Gordon M* " , iiouneod his juteution to mako it the of (ioverineiit. From an irinounccm

appearing in recent journals it would nppenr that some local difficulties hitherto standing in the way of Suva have been arranged, and that the first sale of town lots will take place on the ground in Septemher next. We may, therefore, expect that the doubts and indecision oh this head, which have prevented anyone sinking capital in buildings or warehouses, arc now removed, and that the. future progress of business will be relieved of one great and long-felt obstacle. As to the future of the colony, with its numerous advantages, upon which we have touched, it may fairly be .said that, when one remembers what Fiji was ten years ago (if it can be said to lie within remembrance from that date), sees what it is now, and correctly Appreciates its geographical position, tlwr» is no reason to doubt that in ten yeafs h»uee it will have become a place, not Only of great commercial, but, we may fcdii, of great stragetical importance to the Australian colonics and to New Zealand.—Sydney Mail.