FIJI NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4325, 26 March 1884, Page 3

FIJI NEWS.

[per s.s. tenguin.]

Eetdrns to hand of the transactions of labour vessels during the season 1883 showthat 17 vessels were engaged in tho trade. These made 32 voyages, introducing into Eiji 2,213 labourers, and returning to their homes 1,339 expireed men. The Government are calling tenders for the erection of buildings for the reception of 1,200 Coolie labourers engaged in Calcutta for Fiji. St. Patrick's Day passed in Suva almost without recognition. One gentleman, and one only, was seen with a small piece of green ribbon in his button-hole. So little was known, however, of the day nnd occasion that he was asked by several acquaintances when he hod joined the Blue Ribbon Army. The "Fiji Times" reports that, on the 10th instant, Mr Small's cutter Nympb, while sailing from Nairai to Levuka, picked up a Eijian who, with three companions, had been capsized from their boat on the previous evening. He^had been swimming all night. Two of his companions have since turned up, having swam back to Nairai, and thenc^obtaineda passage to Levuka. Tho fourth is missing, and is supposed to be drowned. Capt. Frost.of the Blue Bell communicates the following strange tale of the sea. Mr Gray, of Futuna, has reported to him that part of a large ship has washed up on the south side of the small island of Alofa, lying to the south - east of Futuna and separated from it only by a narrow strait. Tho wreckage, consisting of about 40 feet in length of the midship, may be vaguely guessed at from the fact that in the section washed up there are 37 planks 9in by 4_in.; that is nearly 8 feet high of straight side planking without sign of bulwark or bilge. This has on it closely-placed timbers 12in. by 12in„ and these are broken off short, none of them being Gin. l.nger than another. All the timber in planks and frame is of pine, and tho bolts are composition. The wreckage washed up about two u-oiitb.3 ago.

Mr W. R. Miller, formerly of Nadi, has been making himself unenviably notorious in New Zealand. An Auckland man down by the steamer Penguin says:—"lf the Aucklanders could get him back they would lynch him."—Fiji "Times. News ia to hand (says the Fiji "Times of March 19) of the loss of the schooner Tasman, Doughty master, on her way up from Yasawas. The vessel was stranded off the Bo coast, and after the master had succeeded in getting her off, she went down in deep water. She had about ten tons of copra for the Government on board. All hands reached shore safely.