FIJI NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 117, 20 May 1931, Page 3

FIJI NEWS.

PRIEST'S TRAGIC DEATH. PLAGUE OF CATERPILLARS. DECLINE IN COLONY'S TRADE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, May 13. The sad news has come to Suva that tho Rev. Father Trillot, stationed at Naiserelagi, in Viti Levu Bay, was burned to death on May 6, while holding an oil lamp. His body was found surrounded by flames, and all his clothes had been burned off the body. He is reported to have murmured a few words before he passed. He has been in the Roman Catholic Mission in Fiji for very many years, and was esteemed by everyone. Famous for his big-hearted hospitality, he was also a noted agriculturist, and his exhibits at the last two Suva shows were highly praised.

Drop in Copra Revenue. The quarterly returns of the Customs Department show a decreased revenue. In the quarter ended on March 31, the total trade of the colony M r as £473,634, as compared with £720,494 for the similar period for 1930. The imports for the 1930 period were £354,308 and for 1931 £222,990. The exports were ','- - )66,186 for 1930 as against £250,044 lor 1931. ' The imports represented a Customs duty of £63,533, as against £78,605 for 1930. Sugar exports for the March quarter in 1931 wore valued at £148,239, against £181,683 for 1930. Copra sank from £122,391 in 1930 to £64,419 this year. The Comptroller of Customs is hopeful, however, that his estimate will be made up as the year progresses, as the third quarter usually brings quite 35 per cent of the year's takings. Result of Recent Floods?

A plague of caterpillars has fallen, like a bolt out of the blue, on poor suffering Fiji, at least on that portion of it which suffered from the February floods. Some three weeks ago a plague of caterpillars suddenly appeared in all parts of the Rewa delta and tributaries, and at Navua, on the south coast. It is said that the caterpillars came as the result of the floods, and that similar epidemics have visited the same areas, but they have never been so bad as now. Scientists say that tho reason for the visitation is that the natural enemies of the caterpillars, such as the ants, were buried in the silt, and could not control the plague. Old planters say that in previous years heavy rains swept away the pests. So far we have had no heavy rains.

Now the news comes that the caterpillars have appeared close to Suva, and that at Tamavua a largo 6trawberrv garden and taro patch have been wiped out. Resident* are alarmed and gardeners fear that their gardens will bo obliterated. The insects eat every blade of grass, and even the weeds, in their progress. Dairymen are heavy sufferers, as the caterpillars attack the para grass first, and that is the chief pasturage for our dairy cattle. Already some cows have died of starvation.