FIJI NEWS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) UNKNOWN

Te Aroha News, Volume V, 3 December 1887, Page 5

FIJI NEWS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) UNKNOWN

At a meeting of the Legislate c Council on the lfeb inst., estimates were passed for the year ending December, 1888. The estimated revenue was 1*63,750, expenditure £61,083, exclusive of immigration. The non-official members of the Legislative Council have expressed their opinion "That, while fully recognising and appreciating what has already been effected by the Government in ?he way of retrenchment, they consider that a leas elaborate and expensive form of Government is desirable in the present and prospective circumstances of the colony." Private advices from the United States say that disallowed land claims will be attended to, and a demand made on the British Imperial Government for compensation for the wrong-doings of the local rulers of the Fiji Government relative to American citizens' interests in Fiji. The Shute will case will also be looked into, and the Henry and Conpland land claim ab Suva.

Discovery of Gold. More rumonrs of gold are afloat, and two or three good " specimens r are in the possession of a townsman, though there is a doubt as to whence they originally came. A reporb was rife in town last week that gold had been struck by the prospectors, not merely in a rich patch or pocket, bub on a reef extending for a mile-and-a-half, and that it was clearly traceable on the face of the stone for the whole of the distance. Naturally enough, this caused some degree of excitement. The simple facts are, that about a week or ten days ago a lefcter was received from the prospectors that specks of cold which had been found in black sand for the distance indicated ; and that, whatever it was washed, the colour was there. Hence the glittering vision. The indications presented are very encouraging, although the story about the reef proved an exaggeration. Black sand is regarded among experts as a sure proof that gold exists in the locality.

Tonga and Samoa. The s.s. Southern Cross has arrived from Tonga. Business there is dull, and things with the Wesleyan natives are not what) was expected from the High Commissioner's visits. Copra is coming in but slowly, bub the trees look very well, and if there is no hurricane this year they expect a great increase in the yield next season. Prices are still low. There is no news of importance from Samoa.