ISLAND NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 91, 18 April 1929, Page 22

ISLAND NEWS.

OUR FIJI LETTER,

i F rom Our Own Corri\«pondnnt.) SUVA, April 11

Departure of Governor,

After four years of hard work as tiovprnor of Fiji and High Commissioner "f the Western Pacific, Sir Evre Hutson, K.C.M.N., leaves hv the Aorangi on the ISth. Meantime Mr. Seymour, V.D., will aft as Governor, He luus been Colonial Secretary for *>oine time. The Elected Members have sent Home a memorial asking that the appointment °f a Governor may he expedited. This is a very unusual and drastic course. Big Reclamation Scheme. At last, after many years of agitation, an agreement has been come to whereby J lie Government, the Municipal Council a rid the land owners agree to pay the cost of reclaiming the large area known as Xagangi, lying between the Town Kail and the Albert Park, low-lying and swampy with bad drainage. The cost will run into over £8000. The result will be «. much healthier and more attractive district. At present the district is a, breeding-place for all sorts of mosquitoes. Dysentery Epidemic. The. epidemic of dysentery in Suva, after showing signs of subsiding, has broken out afresh, and daily several cases are being removed to the hospital, which is now full to overflowing. Altogether over eighty cases have been handled. Mr. .T. Caughley, M.A., Director of Education, has been seriously ill, but is reported to be slowly recovering, although fit ill too weak to leave the hospital. Extra inspection is being carried out with a view to finding the cause, and also to make patient® report themselves. Obituary. The death of one of the colonyV» pioneers took place last week, when Mr. Charles Matthew Abbott passed away at the War Memorial Hospital, aged 77 years. He was identified with the early ctiorts to niako Fiji a big exporter of cotton and sugar.

Alleged High Seas Robbery. Iwo American Indies, mother and daughter, came ashore from the French steamer Andromede and complained to the American consul that they had been robbed of all their money while on board. The cotwu 1 managed to arrange a. second-class passage for them, and they went on to Samoa by the steamer Tofua. C.S.R. Company, Ltd. Mr. A. M. (J. Farquhar. who has been 'liicf of the Colonial Sugar Refining < onipa.ny in Fiji for a number of years, will retire next month, and will reside in Sydney. It, is reported that his suc-<i-s*or i.> likely to be Mr. Irvine, at pre--ent. manager for the company at La >»a •'a.