JUSTICE IN FIJI,

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 199, 23 November 1871, Page 6

JUSTICE IN FIJI,

The Ba Eiver correspondent of the' "Fiji "Gazette," writing under date September 13th, says : — We have beenrather busy down here the last few days, The natives have had a large court day. Most of the surrounding towns were called upon to attend court. About noon the lallie was beat, and out came his Honor dressed in a white sulu and a red. coat, which once- belonged to a soldier in the ISthe Regiment, a black cheese cutter cap, and silk umbrella. He was followeiL-by nine Magistrates and a number of Police-officers, all armed with muskets. The Judge took his seat on a log of wood outside the fighting fence of tbe town ; the magistrates sat on hjs right, and the white men ou h"is left. --An ■officer of the state was requested Jo repeat the names of the offenders, .and another to call them out. As each one came forward in -answer to his name,

the Judge quietly asked him what he \ had done to "be called before him. One man said I bought an acre of land on Sunday. Ho w. much money b ave you got, said the Judge ? One dollar, was the reply. Give it to him, pointing to an officer that held a sulu for the purpose. A boy paid one shilling for leaving home on Sunday. Five women were called. The Judge: What have you done ? * We tattooed a woman from the mountains that wasn't lotu. The Judge : Have you any money ? upon which they began to shell out, and paid ten shillings amongst them, and were allowed to •leave with a caution not to do the like again. A boy about fifteen and a srirl about thirteen were called. The Judge : Come nearer and tell me what you have done. The girl appeared bashful, but the boy more afraid than otherwise. After a good deal of persuasion, the boy acknowa love affair of rather a questionable character. The Judge gave them a severe talking too, and told them both to stand back where everyone could see them, and wait until the last. When he' called them again he fined them "one hundred dollars, and to pay all they had with them to the officer of -the money sulu, and the remainder ~*by instalments, as they made it. They could only muster fourteen shillings between them.