ISLAND NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 126, 28 May 1918, Page 8

ISLAND NEWS.

NATIVE UNREST. THE RECENT TROUBLE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA (FIJI), May 22. The episode which caused the Government here some concern may now be referred to as the "recent trouble." In other ■words, it appears, on the surface at anyrate. that all is well. There were just about fifty arrests altogether and three deportations. European members of the constabulary have visited the affected areas, and the people there were only too willing, now that their leaders had been taken from among them, to express their regret. In fact, in one case, they sent along a whale's tooth, or "tabua," which is the highest mark of respect a Fijian can think of. The successful handling of the business was no doubt due to the prompt action by the Government, 'but these sporadic troubles of a minor character must be expected, for the Fijian i≤ unstable as water. YON LUCKNER-'S BOAT. There will, consequent upon an application in Chambers, in Fiji, shortly be a sitting of the Prize Court to decide onj the future of the motor boat in which Yon Luckncr and his crew of men came j to Fiji from the Island of Mopeha. This means probably that the boat will be condemned and sold, together with two hundred-odd sovereigns that were found in her. FIJI REINFORCEMENT. Fiji is to send its fifth body of men to the front, and the 3rd Reinforcements will leave shortly for England direct. There will probably be twenty men in this body, which will, in due course, be attached" to the King's Royal Rifles, a regiment, which it has been noticed, is usually on hand when there is stitt fighting to be done, whether it is defence or attack. So far ten men have been selected. This will make IGI men to Jeave these shores officially, although the number, all told, including those who have gone direct or joined up with New Zealand or Australia, is well over 600. The entire expense of equipping and conveying the men to England is being borne privately and anonymously. The of State for the Colonies, in his cable accepting the offer, '"appreciates highly the generosity of the private person indicated." He mentions, too, that the men will serve with their fellowcolonists. FIJI BANANAS. l"p to the end of April the total export of bananas frern Fiji amounted to 445,444 bunches, as against 046,30S bunches for the same period of last year, a decrease of 100.5G4 bunches. The ehortage to Australia was 104,66:J bunches, the figures to New Zealand stowing a slight increase of 3798. The total shipment to New Zealand was 142,955 bunches, as againet 139,157. The reason the amount exported to New Zealand has been so well maintained is that the fruit goes under contract at a set price. The falling off is due to one or two causes, the principal being the unrest among the natives, which has resulted in less fruit being planted. EDUCATION IN FIJI. Hie Excellency Sir Bickham Escott, Governor of Fiji, has achieved something in the wav of education for these islands, and last week saw the first annual prizegiving of the Grammar Schools, founded here during his regime. For the boys a fine new building is nearing completion, the Governor persisting in hie scheme despite a good deal of criticism on laying out seven or eight thousand pounds on a building of the kind when we are at wax. In his address on this occasion, the Governor quoted Mr. J. W Tibbs, headmaster of the Auckland Boys' Grammar School, in support of hie contention that one of the most serious dangers of the day is the desire, to make teaching productive as early as possible.