FIJIAN NEWS. HURRICANE AT RAMBI.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 353, 23 March 1889, Page 6

FIJIAN NEWS. HURRICANE AT RAMBI.

Intelligence from Rambi with regard to the effect of the recent huviicane shows the lesults to have been most disastrous. Coooanufc plantations which had only just recovered from the hurricane of 1886 have been so severely damaged that theie is little hope of a crop for another three years. Tho buildings withstood the force of the gale. The damage done at Bambi by tho two hurricanes is estimated at £50,000.

DAMAGE TO BANANA PLANTATIONS. The loss of bananas on the Rewa appears to bo greater than was at first anticipated. Thelate flood has destroyed, all those planted along the banks of the river, while one largo plantation on the Wai man a has had abonthalf of the cultivation completely submerged. The natives do not appear to be taking any active steps as yefc to clear away the debria left by the flood, and the neglected look of some of their plantations is very characteristic.

CONTEMPLATED OIL MILLS. The Company proposed to be formejd for the purpose of erecting and working oil nulls is now an accomplished fact. The

machinery is fast approaching completion, •Bend th company will shortly send out a representative authorised to act on its behalt. On the arrival of that gentleman tho locality will be selected whereon the necessary buildings will be erected and a start be at once made with them so that they will be ready for the reception of the machinery on its arrival. The benefit which will accrue to the colony from this undertalcing ia as yet but faintly appreciated.

THE SOCIAL EVIL. At the local court a male and female Indian immigiant were sentenced each to a month's imprisonment with hard labour for having no lawful visible means of support. It was frankly acknowledged by both that they had sot up an establishment or chiente for the propagation or cultivation o£ tho .social evil among the Polynesians, Fijians, and others. There was not the slightefat reticence in then admissions, and they Seemed to regard their means of support as being certainly lawful, and even laudable.

DEATH OF MR LEVY. A very sad incident occuircd on Friday night, last. AMr Levy, well-known in commercial circles, and a very old resident in Fiji, had shown (symptoms of aberration oi intellect on the pievious Wednesday and Thursday-. On Friday morning) being 1 unmanageable by his friends, he was arrested for his own protection. There being no special place of detention for such cases, the untortunate man was, of secepbifcy, taken to tho gaol wheie he was placed in a cell by himself. On Saturday morning he was found dead ; the body ligid and decomposition set in.