FIJI NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1888, Page 8

FIJI NEWS.

The steamer Wainui arrived from Fiji yesterday. Everything is quiet there, but business shows signs of improvement. Mr Ford, tho representative of tho Union Steamship Company, was entertained at a dinner at Stmt's Club Hotel, prior to his departure from tho group. Mr Lazarus, Warden of Suva, who presided, spoke very cordially of tho work which Mr Ford had done for his company and for tho commercial prosperity of tho colony. Mr Kerr, manager of tho Mortgage Agency Company, also spoke in the highest terms of tho guest of the evening. In tho course of his address ho said that if the scheme now proposed, for the Union Company, in conjunction with the Government, to import labourers from the .New Hebrides at a cost of from £16 to £18 per annum wages (passages and keep included), was carried out, many of the minor industries, such as vanilla, cocoa, collee, etc., in conjunction with tho growing of sugar-cane, tea, and cocoanuts, would be grown at a profit, and would be the means of restoring coniidonce in those islands. Mr Ford, in responding, expressed his conviction that Fiji had seen the bottom of tho depression, and that business would steadily improve. The ship Hereford, a line vessel of some 1,500 tons commanded by B. Wickman Esq, has arrived at Suva. The vessel left Calcutta on the 17th February so she has experienced a very good run, and under the average of the trips hitherto made between the two ports. She brings 538 Indians, under the medical charge of Dr. Laing, who visited this port in the like capacity some two years since, Tho Indian labourers who lately arrived by the Hereford aro now ready to be taken to the different plantations to which they have been allotted. The labourers have all undergone a strict medical examination during their stay at tho depot on the island of Nukulnu. There is very little sickness amongst this lot of immigrants, the majority being of a fairly robust class, and the number of women is at a lower percentage than that of the lot that, wore formerly introduced.

Lovuka is really a surprising place, its power of recuperation is so highly developed. Notwithstanding all the y/oebegono prophecies of the possimists and tho highly statesmanlike proposal to close the port, tho amount of animation in commercial and other circles at tho old town is something to bo envied. "Copra is flowing in and goods are rolling out" says a corresponpendent, and there is a degree of healthy bustle perceptible which is cheering to tho hearts and speaks

volumes for the foresight of the business men who have pinned their faith to the fortunes of the "commercial capital."