FIJI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3200, 17 April 1871, Page 3

FIJI.

A correspondent of the Argus writing from Levuka, Ovalau, on March 7, says:— The Springbok, barque, from Mel- : bourne, arrived here yesterday, after a passage of 21 days, only two days out of which, owing to contrary winds, was the vessel making anything like fair sailing. She brings seven passengers. i Portions of wreck and a cedar chest have been picked up on two islands bn the route from the Assawas Islands. It is thought that they belonged to Mr Sandiland’s boat, which is supposed to have been lost on her way here from the Assawas. A letter has been drawn up, and is in course of signature by the Church of England members here, to Bishop Patteson, requesting him; to take the episcopal oversight of the Church of England in Fiji. The Lovoni tribe have yet shown no aggressive tendencies towards the whites, nor has anyone here thought that they would, but that it was simply a dodge of Thakombau to make us think that they would, in order to get us to assist him against them. Dysentery is rather prevalent in the group just now; 16 native labourers are said to have died from it on Mrs Eitzgibbon’s plantation on the Dreketi Kiver, Yahna Leva. The native warriors that cstme here a short time ago oil Thakom baa’s behalf, to fight the Lovoni tribe, have not yet commenced any warlike operations. Their watchword is still “ Malua “ By-and-by.” The weather has been extremely warm and oppressive latterly, with copious downfalls of rain, but the general health of Levuka has been very good. An inquiry ijuto the cause of death of Dr Browning, lately arrived from Melbourne, was held at Tauinni, where he died on the 23rd ult.j and it was decided that bis death

resultetf from najmralcauses. 'Wehear jtoat Jlleßsra ffiti Levu, have had their %cottonbouses lately burned down, but Whether by natives or otherwise is not known. The damage is estimated at (£IOOO. { A schooner boat, name and owner {unknown, has been lost off the Nadroga Coast, and six Fijians in it drowned. The Meteor, barque, from Sydney, came in to-day, after a passage of 26 jdays, with 14 passengers.