FIJI NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 319, 14 January 1879, Page 2

FIJI NEWS.

+ A BRITISH CREW FIRED UPON. (I'BR PRBSS AOENCY.) ¦ Auckland, 14th January. The Agnes Donald, schooner, from Luvuka, arrived at elevon o'clock She brings news from Levuka to 4th instant. The schooner Tubal Cain, recently wrecked at Ono Island, is being repaired rapidly, and is expected shortly in Lavuka. Tho damage is not so great as was expected. At the enquiry into the wreck of tbe Tubal Cain the Court recordyd a very severe censure on the master, James Lewis, for an error of judgment in attempting to go to windward of low islands like the Ono Group, and for want of caution on entering the Fijian Group. Two severe shocks of earthquake hare been experienced, doing serious damage. Several large sugar mills have recently been started at Levuka. Diphtheria is very prevalent at Kandavu. A large number of natives have succumbed to its effects. The schooner Dapb.ua has returned from a. cruiso to the New Hebrides and Solomons. On the 6th July, when off Vanua Lavu, noticed fire signals near Aorea* Bay; stood in and sent a boat ashore, but Could gut no men The natives offered pigs and flocoauuts. On the mate offering to buy tho former, some of the natives left to fetch them, and ho put off a little Irom the shore to await their return, whon one of tlte natives who had just reaihed the scrub turned and fired his musket at tho boat. The crew threw themselves down in the - boat and returned the fire over the gunwale. Several volleys were then exchanged. These men were returned laborers from Queensland, and spoko English. On arrival at the Solomons heard particulars of Town«end's death. The boy who was with Townsend received eight spear wounds, notwithstanding which he recovered. Labor is very scarce at Fiji. Fortunately over 200 natives havo engaged themselves at Kaad.vau sugar mill, erected at Rewi by Waterson. The rollers are expected to crush sufficient cave to manufacture four tons of sugar daily. 400 coolies are expected from India early this year. Polynesian labor continues to be preferred by the planters. _,< Two gentlemen have arrived from Ceylon to commence coffee planting. Thomas Keel, an old settler at Natewa Bay, formerly of New Zealand, was accidentally drowned. A number of suicides have taken place among the natives in consequence of the oppression to which they are subjected by their chiefs in connection with the native taxation scheme. The schooner Lady Palmerston was wrecked on a reef off Batiki. She was bound to Samoa, and was partly insured. The cargo is a total loss. She was owned by Mr. Fisher, of Levuka The three-masted schooner Winifred reports that the natives at Oban fired on a boat's crew, wounding a teaman with a poisoned attodr. When on board the wound was lanced and w»s washed out with nearly pure carbolic acid. A native in the boat pulled out the arrow.