EVENTS AT FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 234, 3 October 1935, Page 17

EVENTS AT FIJI.

IMPORT TRADE ACTIVITY. LATEST NEWS BY MAIL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, September 21. While the export trade of Fiji seems to be somewhat dormant much activity in the import trade is shown by the Customs revenue returns for the eight months ended August 31. The total revenue for the period was £252,171, against the estimate of £215,833, or an increase of £36,942, which surpasses any surplus for some considerable time. Moneylender Stabbed to Death. When an Indian named Gnrditta met a fellow-countryman to whom he owed money an argument ensued, which culminated in the fatal stabbing of the old moneylender, Indar Singh, several times with a knife. At the criminal sessions Gurditta was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. The murder happened in the Rewa district.

Miner Crushed to Death. Death came very near to a man named Davidson and one of his Fiji assistants when a fall of earth in a tunnel, which was untimbered, half smothered them. The fall unfortunately caught a third man, a Fijian named Luke, and crushed him to death. The accident took place on land owned by Mr. Macindoe at YVainibau, lying between Navua and Waindoi. Bank Closes Levuka Branch. The history of banking in the old Fiji capital of Levuka is closely associated with the Bank of New Zealand. Before annexation some of the business people formed a banking corporation which helped greatly to make business easier to handle. This company—the Fiji Banking and Commercial Company —was taken over later by the Bank of New Zealand, which opened a branch in 1876, following the advent of Sir Arthur Gordon as tlio first Governor of the new colony. Mr. J. M. Butt was the first manager, followed by Mr. P. J. Parfltt, and Mr. Butt then started a branch in Suva. Business in Levuka has dwindled of late years. Methodist Centenary. Mission circles are greatly interested in the celebrations by the Methodist Mission of the centenary of the landing of the Bev. Mr. Cross and the Rev. Mr. Cargill on one of the Lau Islands, 100 years ago. The natives have been gathering at various centres in large numbers, and at Nanduri, on the Mathuata coast, over 2000 aro already present, all bringing gifts in kind, 'including many hundreds of mats. The big event will' take place when the Katoomba arrives with some 500 visitors from Australia, including her Majesty Queen Salote of Tonga, who is taking a very keen interest in the celebrations. Yacht Cimba Ashore. Dragging a small dinghy across sharpedged coral reefs and alternately dipping into hidden pools in the darkness, the plight of Messrs. Griflin and da Forrest was none too pleasant, and they sighed happily when, after a difficult time, including many cuts and bruises, they reached the beach near Suva and gave the alarm that the yacht Cimba was ashore in a nasty position on the outer reef opposite Suva Point. The two owners, Messrs. Maury and Taggart, stayed aboard. By 2 a.m. the harbourmaster. Captain Nasmyth, was alongside with a launch, but early efforts to refloat the yacht were unavailing. However, with the help of members of the Yacht Club and Mr. A. Ewins, of the Sigawalc, and Mr. Pickmere, of the yacht Arethusa, and the harbourmaster, the Cimla was floated, buoyed up with empty druijfis and towed to Suva, where she was found to have planking damaged. The owners recently arrived in her, having sailed across "the Pacific from America. She is schooner rigged and a trim little craft.