FIJI NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 264, 16 May 1888, Page 4

FIJI NEWS.

Tin sieamei \\ ninui <uii\ccl tiom Fi|i (.onlay. Everything is quiot there, l>ut business show -» Mgns of impiovenieut. Mr Fold, the lepreiontative ot the Union bteam.-hi|) Company, was entertained at a dinner at IStiu t'.s. Club llott.l, ptior to hi* depnituie from the gioup. Mr La/ams, \\ aiden ol Suva, who picsided, spoke \ci\\, coi dully ol the woik which Mr Ford had done tor hi-, company and for the comjneieial prosperity ot the colon). Mr Kerr, mam>ger of Llio Mortgage Agency Company, also spoke in the highest terms of t no guest ot the evening. In the course ot his address lie .said I hat if the .scheme now piopohcd, for die Union Company, in conjunction with the Covcmment, to impoi b labourer.'! from the New Hebrides at a cost ot tiom £16 to ClB per annum wages (passage- and keep included), was caviied out, many ot the minor industries, such as vanilla, cocoa, coflce, etc., in conjunction with the giowing of sugar-cane, tea, and cocoanutu, would be grown at a profit, and would be the nicau^ ot restoring confidence in these islands. Mr Ford, in responding, expressed hi* conviction that Fiji had seen the bottom of the depression, and that business would steadily impiovc. The shi)) Ifeveford, a iinc vessel of somo 1,500 tons commanded by B. E>sq, has arrived at Suva. The vessel loft Calcutta on the 17th Febiuary so bhe has experienced a veiy good uin, and undei tlio average ot the tiiph hitheito made beU\ ecn the two ])orts. She brings 538 Indians, under the medical charge "of Dr. Laing, who \ ibited this poi t in the liKe capacity .some two years since, The Indian labourers who lately ailived by the Hereford are now ready to be taken to the diflerent plantations to which they ha\c been allotted. The laboiuer.s ha\e all undergone a strict medical examination dining thoir stay at tlio depot on the inland ot Nukulau. There is \ery little .sickness amongst this lot ot iminigiantf, the majority being ot a iairly lobu.st cla.ss, and the number of women is at a lower percentage than that of the lotthat were tormerly introduced. Lcvuka is really a surprising place, its j lower of recuperation is so highly developed. Notwithstanding all the woebegone prophecies of the pessimists and the highly statesmanlike proposal to olohe tho port, the amount ot animation in commercial and other chcles at the old town Ls something to be envied. Copra is (lowing in and goods are rolling out" says a correspon pendent, and thorc is a degree of liealthy bustle porce-ptiblo which is jjj j cheering to the hearts and speaks | volumes for the foresight oi the business men who have [)inned their taith to the , fortunes of the " commercial capital."

lUggins : " Awful headache, and I feel so dull. I can't see what, makes my spirits bo low." Wiggins: " Natural reaction, my c boy ; you raihed them too high with a corkscrew last night. " \