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Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2153, 12 March 1870, Page 3

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By the arrival of the Jennie Duncan at Auckland we are put in possession of news to tho 12th ult. The following are the principal items of news :—

The 8 s Eagle arrived from Sydney via New Caledonia, on the 7th. She made a rather long passage of fourteen days between Sydney and New Caledonia, and after leaving that port for Levuka she had to return on account of bad weather and engines breaking down. She met with a severe storm, which destroyed four horaea and did other damage.

The "Times" urges upon the British Government the advisability of immediately talcing possession of Fiji, so as to forestal the United States or Russia. The " Times " says: —"In self-defence, then, and on behalf of their own trade and commerce, all the Australian colonies should urge upon the Imperial Government the necessity of placing Fiji under the protection of the British flag. The Prince, a vessel belonging to King George, of Tonga, has arrived at the Lav Islands, bringing a large double canoe as a present from King George to the chief of Baa. Both the Prince and the canoe were loaded with native bread, which has been distributed among the Wayward Islands, where scarcity of food has been severely felt during the past few months. A ease of some importance to the trading community of Fiji was heard and decided at the British Consulate. Messrs Frost and Grover brought an action to recover certain cotton brought by the Jeannie Duncan. ArJitratoa were appointed, and decided in their avor.

Mr and Mrs Gardner, of the Viti Levu *>ast,were attacked and brutally beaten by «ght or ten natives from Tovatova, a town JJtuated near to Mr Gardner's plantation. «« quarrel arose through the killing of goats «»t had strayed to their native plantations, steps are being taken for administering prorpt punishment to the perpetrators of this outrage. , A man mown by the name of Sam, who JKthe wharf at the beginning of the week 2J; several others, was drowned while proWjjMo Savu Savu. E. B. Maroh, Esq., «« Majesty's Consul, has set aside one day » each week for the hearing and settlement «^se 8 by arbitration.