FIJI NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 257, 31 October 1888, Page 5

FIJI NEWS.

PER S.S. WAINUI,

The month has been one of full activity in our caneficlds, but the mill output has been bub small, comparatively speaking. The

Pukaki cleared on 29th ultimo, with some 1,4C0t0n.. of sugar, produce of Rewa, Navua, Druba, Penang, and Mango mills. From Lancala Bay the Fiona has loaded some 640 tons of the produce of the Nausori mills for Auckland ; and for the same destination the Union S.S. Company's._ttamer Arawata took some 500 tons of Rewa and Navua produce. The U.S.S. Company's Pukaki has landed over 1,400 tons coal, brought from Greymouth, New Zealand. The Arawata had about 450 tons for Navua and Druba mills; and the C.S.R. Company's s.s. Fiona has discharged into punts at Lancala Bay a full cargo for tho Nausori mills.

The Alpha tea plantation, 340 acres, together with an adjoining block, 286 acres of virgin bush land, and the Gila cotton and cocoanut plantation, forming the estate of the late Hon. James E. Mason, was put up to auction on the 6th instant, and knocked down to a single bid at the upset price, £6,186, made by the mortgagees, 'i he New Zealand Loan and Mortgage Company, the purchasers of the above, are about changing their Solia Leve sugar plantation into a tea estate. The cultivation of cano is not to bo wholly abandoned, but the manager's energies are to be chiefly devoted to tea culture. Extensive clearing contracts have already been entered into, and operations will be pushed forward vigorously until not less than 300 acres are fully planted out. The Company having a largo nursery ot young plants to draw from on the Alpha estate, expect to have a considerable acreage to pick from early in 1890.

A few days later a valuable life ended in the person of Father Bochethetz, one of the Marist Mission, who had completed 3S years of work in the South Seas, 24 of which had been spent in this group. Prior to coming to Fiji the deceased father was employed in mission work among the New" Hebrides, Wallis, and Samoan Islands.

The Marist Mission has been strengthened by the arrival of two more priests and four Sisters of Mercy, whose special vocation is supposed to be teaching. Schools for Europeans and native boys and girls havo been opened, and a considerable attendance of pupils of all classes has already been secured. It has been decided to make Su%'a headquarters, Bishop Vidal having purchasad the grounds and house formerly occupied by Mr A. Duncan, late manager for the Fiji Trading Company, and now agent of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand. The purchase-money has been variously stated at from £1,200 to £1,800. The Bishop is now away on a pastoral tour in the Windward Isles, and on his return it is said that tenders for the erection of a cathedral will be called.

A serious fire broke out in Suva early in the morning of 2nd instant, which resulted in the complete destruction of the entire

block of shops extending along Victoria Parade, from the premises of the Bank of New Zealand to Sturt's Club Hotel, both in which buildings, —two of the largest of Suva—-being built of wood material, were for a considerable time in great danger. Sturt's hotel, a structure of some considerable architectural pretensions, was at one time actually on fire, but the plentiful supply of water obtainable from the lately completed Government waterworks was effective in checking the conflagration at the south end of tho street, and on the other side a powerful hose belonging to the Bank of New Zealand, promptly brought into full play, kept the fire within bounds of the block where it first commenced. Some eight or ten retail drapery or grocery shops have been utterly consumed, and with but small salvage of goods or furniture from the buildings. Insurances, principally with the Hanseatic office, reach the sum of £1,600. Some of the residents have apparently full belief in a prosperous future before tho town of Suva. £1,000 was given a few days since for 1. acre of foreshore, which will take at least £500 to £600 to fill up for building site.. Another sale made a fortnight ago was a block of 457 acres of unclared scrub and timber lands in the vicinity of the town, which fetched a price aggregating about £3 12s 6d per acre.