FIJIAN AFFAIRS.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3748, 31 December 1880, Page 3

FIJIAN AFFAIRS.

(feom ovs, own coebespondent.)

I Levuka, 24th December, 1880. The hearty welcome accorded to Mr Dcs Voeux (or as it is rumoured, he is ■oon to be a E.CM.Gr. Sir George Dcs Voeax) was in strange contrast to the Departure of Sir Arthur Gordon. Ho had been expected for a fortnight past, and fresh decorations had continually to be put up, but the arrival of the Clyde on Saturday gave us notice w! en to expect him, and consequently, every one was fully prepared. The Albion came in early on Monday morning, and at 9 30, the official landing took place. The Governor . was met on the landing stage by about 160 school children, who sang the* National Anthem in excellent time; * advancing to the end of the wharf, where a magnificent triumphal arch had been ' erected regardless of expense, he was met by the Warden (Mr J. M. Butt) who presented him with an address of welcome on behalf of the Town Board and citizens of Levuka, by Mr Cave who delivered 1 an address from the Chamber of Commerce, by Mr William Hennings on, behalf of the Fiji Agricultural Society" &c. &c, to each of which a reply couched in the most courteous terms was afterwards sent. Three hearty cheers, the like of which had never before been heard in Levuka, were then given for His Excellency and also for Lady Dcs Voeux. He afterwards held a levee at Government House which was attended by every one in Levuka. From such an v^-auspicious reception, it requires no prophet to augur a most beneficial course of affairs in Fiji. His Excellency has arrived at a time when the colony was in its worst condition since annexation, owing to the pernicious policy of Sir Arthur Gordon, and when a man of his far-seeing ability will be able to grasp the situation and soon put matters on a very different footing. To him. will belong the entire credit of making for Fiji a name that will be envied by not only Jamaica, Trinidad, &c., but even by Mauritius and Ceylon. "Where our sugar mills and coffee plantations are now number'd by units, they will then be numbered by tens ; and tea will also be one of our staple exports. There is no tropical product which will not grow in Fiji and thrive most lnxuriantly—sugar, coffee, tea, cinchona, cotton, cocoanuts, tobacco, jute, rice, nutmegs, cinnamon, cocoa,* arrowroot, tapioca, &c. &c. &c, and when a country will produce all th'se it would be singular if it could not thrive. The Albion is just a little too large for the Levuka trade at present, but very shortly we expect to be able to fill even a larger steamer than she. We hiear there is a possibility of a line being put on to connect Samoa and Tonga With Fiji,, and that the Pacific mail boats will call foi 1 four hours off the port of Apia. This will place us about ten days nearer England, and be a great blessing to all of us. " The perpetrators of the outrage alluded ' to some two months ago have not yet been discover:!, although h is confidently hoped that they will be forthcoming for punishment as soon as the chief, of the district returns from the Vei Bose. The sugar mill belonging to Messrs Stantake, Lee and Co. arrived about three —wteks agor aid is about to be erected on the Rewa. This and the Colonial Sugar Company's mill should very soon send^ that district ahead. • Planters are already' beginning tg^gflMT cane, and the latter, under the agreement entered into with the manager, to crush it for them. The Jessie Kelly arrived from a recruiting voyage on Monday^ and brings word that ; they discovered th*at a murder /Smmitted in one part of the Solomon Inland Group was known from one end to the other in the course of a few days. This accounts for the great increase in» crime during the last few months; if the murderers are not punished, they of course think they can murder anyone with impunity. It is to be hoped that/ the Emerald will not be satisfied with a few pigs"for poor Commander Bower's life, nor yet for Captain Ferguson's. It is understood that grave charges are ta.be made against the Rev. Mr^Penny, one of the clergymen belonging to the Melanesian Mission, but until they are made, we i refrain *fiom further comment. T7e trust he will be able to disprove, them. During the last twelve months, more lives have been taken in the Solomon and [New Hebrides Groups than during the whole of the previous part of this. century. The " pits" policy of thet High Commissioner ; (Sir Arthur Gordon), and the leniency l " of the Jndical Commissioner (Hon. John k Gorrie) both contribute in no small degree to the fearful death roll. In fact, there B|re men who say that they are tho cause most of the subsequent murders, being is going to be particularly gay this is believed to be owing to everyoioeb'eTffi'C'TKrffJ^^ Wm. Dcs Voeux is back again amongst us. There are to be. athletic sports, regattas, and balls in five or six different parts of the group, and the Masonic Ball in Levuka is to surpass in magnificence every ball that has hitherto been given in ' Fiji. .■ ■■.■•;,.■■ --: ■•■ ' ■.. . Wishing you the compliments of the season, we draw onr notes to a close.