FIJI NEWS

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 249, 24 March 1888, Page 3

FIJI NEWS

On Saturday evening a banquob to welcome and congragulate His Excellency on his arrival as Governor of tho colony was held at tho school- room, Suva. There wero n hundred and seven sat down, including representatives from all places, and of all clashes. Mr William Honnings of Lovuka, occupied the chair, and Mebsrs Munea and Scott tho vice-chairs. Ili.s Excellency in replying to the toast of his health spoke for an hour and a half. h\ the iirsfc place he wished to give a denial to the stories related about his first visit to Fiji. His arrival here and subsequent career had been represented as a chapter of accidont?. Such was not the ease. He had first journeyed to Fiji as a botanist in search of freah fields, and had thero met an old friond, Capt'rin Jones, H.M.s Consul, who upon his leaving Fiji appointed His Excelloncy as acting British Consul, an appointment at once confirmed by Her Majesty. His subsequent history they wore all conversant with. For tho probonl, his intention was to ioduco Government expenditure, introduce foreign capital, and cheapen labour. His Excellency regretted the depression, but with the help of his fellow colonists ho had no doubt happy and prosperous times would return. His Excellency had determined to dispense with the Agent-Geucial of Immigration, and the Secretary tor Native Affairs and to include the latter otiico in the duties of tho Receiver -General and the former in the dutios of Colonial Secretary, and he intended to act as his own Colonial Secretary. The saving at present intended in the Civil Service would bo some £4,000 a year. His Excellency hoped to make arrangements with the Union Sronm Shipping Company to bring labour from tho Now Hebrides, but the arrangements had not been completed. \Vithin a few months machinery for dissicating copra would bo introduced, and other machinery ho hoped would follow. His Excellency expressed his pleasure in meeting the colonists again, and in such a manner.

THE SAMOAN LAND CASE. At the last session of the Supreme Court, Fiji, the case of Mantema and Another v. McArthur and Co., was again brought up. This was a motion to vary an order mado by Chief Justice Clark and which had been sustained, on appeal, by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. In this matter Mr Garriok applied for an adjournment on the ground chiefly of shortness of time. The application was strongly opposed by Mr Solomon who urged tho impossibility of this Court overriding a decision of the Privy Council in a matter already heard. He represented that the application was made solely for tho purpose of gaining time, and that tho defendants wore, meantime, in possession of plaintiffs land. Tho Court thought there was no time to entortain the matter and therefore adjourned the hearing until the 25th of March, either party to bo at liberty to apply for an extension to the regular sittings in April.

FIRE AT THE FIJI TRADING COMPANY'S PREMISES. The most disastrous fire yofc known in Fiji, broke out in the extensive premises of the Fiji Trading Company, situated in Thomp-son-street, Suva. It originated in the large storeroom in rear of the Ironmongery Department. The damage incurred was considerable and may safely be computed at between i.1,000 and £2,000. Both the building and the merchandise are covered by insurance.