FIJI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) February 25.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4235, 11 March 1871, Page 3

FIJI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) February 25.

SHIPPING. W.E have had very few arrivals from the colonies lately, and there are very few vessels m the harbour. The '.Reconnaissance,' barque/ from Tonga, arrived here on the 19th instant, and sails to-morrow for Sydney. The 'Prince of Wales,' from Sydney via Tonga, arrived on the 21st, and will shortly sail lor Sydney. The 'Edith,' ketch, from New Hebrides, arrived on the 18th, with 42 uative labourers ; and the 'Gulnare,' bchooner, on the 20lh instant, with 41

natives. THE LABOUIt TfiADE. Tt is becoming extremely difficult now to obtain native labouiers fvom the New llebudcs, as the natives there are beginning to discover that they can get better paid in in Queensland, while some unscrupulous planters in Fiji have sent natives home to their islauds, with but slight remuneration for their labour, thus injuring the chaiacter of the whole community. MASONIC A3D "VOI/UNTEEKIjSCt ITEMS. A meeting of Fi eemasons was held here on the 11 th instant, when it was resolved to take &tcps for the institution of a Masonic Lodge. On Monday, the 20lh instant, a Voluuteer JLliuo Company was formed, for the township of Levuka, and most of the residents of the place have enrolled themselves.

NATIVE INTERFERENCE WITH EUROPEANS. The same evening an indignation meeting was held, with respect to the conduct of the British Consul in sanctioning the interference of natives in a dispute in reference to a piece of land between two residents heie. The meeting was attended by nearly everyone in the tow nship, and it was resolved to resist native inteiiereuco in such disputes; and a resolution was also passed condemning the conduct of the Consul m not warning and advising the natives not to meddle in the quarrels of white people. 11 appeared that one of the persons claiming the land had a building m course of election, on it ; and the. other paity, claiming to be owner, called in the natives to pull down the house, Thereupon the owner of the house complained to the Consul, who called the chief ot the place bofoie him, and, having hea id the matter, told the chief to act according lo his own disci etion. 'I he Improvement Committee, lately f owned here, have draw n up rules and an electoral roll for the township, and the first election for members to act as a kind of Coiporation will shortly take place.

ATTEMPTED SHOOTING CASE. An American military gentleman and settler here attempted, on the 16th instant, in the township, to shoot another gentleman whom he alleged to have been unworthily endeavouring to supplant him in the affections of a pretty barmaid in one of the hotels here. The revolver luckily missed (ire, and the intended victim beat a hasty retreat. The " gentleman " with the revolver was warned by the residents of the place that if he had shot or should shoot his supposed lival severe and summary justice in the matter would very likely be executed by the people, who would not permit such outrages to disgrace the township.

NATIVE DISTURBANCES : VILLAGE BTJUKEI). On the 14th instant, the Lovoni tribe, who distinguished themselves a short time ago by killing and eating the chief of the Tokolau tribe, again signalised themselves by making a ferocious assault on the same tribe, burning their village and killing 12 of them ; having some of their own tribe, however, fatally wounded. Thakombau, to whom the Lovoni tribe are hostile, alleges that they are instigated by Maafu, the Tongan chief, of whose ambition and treachery he complains bitterly. Maafu, we are informed, has organised a native army at Lakeba, which is daily drilled and disciplined according to the most orthodox plan.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A BANK. On the 15th instant, a large meeting of the principal merchants and residents here was held, and a committee was formed to take steps to have a Bank established here, and to depute one of the principal Levuka merchants to proceed to the colonies, to place the matter before the colonial public.

DEATH OP A aiISSIONARY. We have lately received the news of the death at Lakeba of Mrs. Leggoe, the wife of tbe JRev. John Leggoe, Wesleyan minister at that island, after a long and painful illness.

GENERAL PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS. The natives are quiet throughout the different islands, and the cotton prospect is encouraging. These islands are eminently adapted for sugar and every kind of tropical products, but capital is sadly wanting to start sugar manufactories, and to encourage other industries. It will be a great benefit to the place to have a banking institution here. Levuka is still fast increasing in size, and every preparation is being made for the influx of new arrivals thab are expected after the hurricane months, which expire with March. The much- talked-of hurricane months are thought by a good many to be made too much of a bugbear, and my own experience for three years in fe'iji, and other islands, leads me to think that there is nothing very extraordinary in the storms as compared with other places in more temperate latitudes. The weather here lately has been very warm and oppressive, and a change even for some rough weather would be gratefully welcomed. March 2.

The fine s.s. 'James Paterson,' by which I send this, arrived here on the 24th ult., "with 32 passengers. The captain waa presented by the passengers with an address and a purse of sovereigns. The war news brought by the 'James Paterson created much interest and excitement here, and a feeling of satisfaction that England was not yet involved in war. The 'Reconnaissance,' barque, departed from hero for Sydney on the 28th ult., with four passengers. The ' Prince of Wales, ' schooner, will leave here for Bua to-morrow, thence to return here, and then to Sydney. The ' Jennie Duncan departed on the previous day for Auckland, The 'Griilnare,' schooner, lately in with native labourers, departed also on the 27th ult. for Aneiteum, New Hebrides.

STATE OP LEVUKA. In Sydney Punch of the 28tli January last, Levuka is described as a "town full of rowdies, whose amusements vary from pitch-and-toss to manslaughter." These playful pastimes mußt be kept very private here, for the residents of the place are not aware of such games "being carried on, or of the other peculiarities which Pencil states are the characteristics of the Fijian white community ; but a funny paper must be allowed great latitude, even perhaps to the extent of substituting ignorance. and falsehood for humour and wtt,

SUPPOSED DEATH OF ME. SINDILA.KDS.

It is feared that Mr. S»ndiland«, a planter on the Assawas Islands, 'hat been' lost on his passage from there in his own boat to Levuka. He left home in hi* own boat about a month ago, in company with another boat ; both boats wore caught in $• Bqnall, and, after it had passed off, nothing was seen of Mr. Sandilands or his boat by Jthe occupants of the other boat. Mr. Sandilands had with I him £120 in gold, and other property. It is still, however, not certain that Mr. Sandilands has perished, for ha may have been simply driven out of his course, and lost his reckoning.

THAKOMBAU S A,RMT. Levuka is at present full of native warriors, under Thakombau, who have been brought here to subdue the rebellious Lovoni tribe, but they only talk and strut about, and will doubtless go as they came. It is confidently reported that the Lovoni tribe intend to attack Levuka, and slaughter all the whites, Thakombau and his warriors nonobstantj but we are not much troubled at the announcement.

EEPORTS FBOM OTHER ISLANDS. Accounts from the Rewa river speak well of the weather there, and that the planters are still picking large quantities of cotton. It is reported that Dr. Browning, lately from Melbourne, has recently died at Taviuni, from dysentery. I have no other report to hand from any of the other outlying districts except of general progress and quiet. — The Volunteer corps lately formed is now undergoing preliminary drill instructions. The weather has been for some time warm and close, but the much-talked-of hurricanes seem rather backward in putting in an appearance.