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New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2521, 23 February 1872, Page 3

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Br the Lrctitia we havo news to the 12th inptant from Levukn. We arc informed the I.ietitia, haying left, without a Customs clearance, was chased and fired into bv one of the Government cruisers and compelled to return. The captain had been under the impression that a clearance, as heretofore, from the Consul, was butllcient. The natives were paving tees, but strong opposition was threatened by the white settlers, who had organised u British Mutual Protection Society. A Eille Corps had also been formed, an.i the Presidency ottered to Mr. March, the British Cou-ul, who is in dead opposition to the Government. An armed guard was placed by the Government over the Treasury ar.d public buildings, and the Fiji Tiims speaks of the officials as walking about armed with revolvers. Rather a happy condition of affairs t.liU certainly appears to ari outsider, but we must, hope that tlie good sense and forbearance of Englishmen 'will prevent the occurrence, there, of scenes fitting only for the population of one of the South American Republics, whose normal existence seems to be that of violence and bloodshed. One of the Ministry (Mr. Woods), has cone to Svdney to make representation to the Government

tlieiv ot the quarrels between the Consul and tlie 1< ijian authonlies. Mr. ?»±anning, the Attorney-General, has been while cruising in a boat between the Islands. His suceossor is Colonel Hamilton, formerly of Auckland, and hi'herto ail active member of his Majesty's Opposition in Fiji. Dr. Ay ley, another leader of Oppj-ition, has become Coroner, and those who now style themselves tho deluded followers of these gentlemen are indignant at their having taken office. They have presented to Mr. Hurt, tho Premier, an address calling on him to resign. As this was succeeded by a counter tuldrcs3 from a much larger number of voters, Mr. Burt, naturally declined. In the course of an interview with tlie deputation which presented tho first address, Air. Burt made the astounding charge that he had an affidavit declaring that two of the members of the deputation Imd sworn to assassinate him and Mr. Woods. The charge is ridiculed by tile papers, and denounced by the Protection Society as a gross calumny on the settlers. Tho weight of taxation on a community hitherto entirely exempt, and the direct form in which the taxation is levied in the absence of a Customhouse, are the chief causes of discontent. The cotton crop was promising, but the picking much interfered with by the wet weather. The Supreme Court was in session, with a

heavy calendar. Several jurymen were fined 10 dollars each as absentees, and in tlie calendar was included tho forty Solomon Islanders who are to be tried for the murders on board the cutter Meva, and who have been awaiting their trial for the previous six weeks, as prisoners on board the schooner Peri, in JGevuka harbour. The Judge was assisted by the native judge. The juries, we observe, consist onlv of seven.

Kesp'.'cting the J .ret ilia, schooner, a correspondent writes " The Lie!itia, schooner, in contravention of tlie harbour regulations lately framed by the Fijian Government, endeavoured to dep trt from Levuka without ' clearing out.' Tho Government regulations were, however, well known by all. Tlie royal gun boat, resolved on vindicating the law, an t accordingly (ire. 1 , int. • th- Lxtitia, which vessel was obliged to return and clear out according to the harbour le. illations of Fiji. I t is a pity that a vessel wearing the British (lag should disobey the { powers tint!- and legal regulations, so its to compel such extreme measured. Now Zealand vessels arc rendering the nselves rather too obnoxious in the South Sea Islands.' 1 The absence of a bank is much complained of. Co;*n gets hoarded over the country, and the chief circulation is in Government notes. Crold is at a premium of 10 per cent. "We clip the following from the Time* of the 7th inst: — The Supreme Court met on Mon day morning last, and was adjourivd n»»til Thursday, pending the arrangements for the appointment of an Attorney-General, in tho place of Mr. .Manning, deceased. Many of our readers will be enlightened when they learn that the

" lionorable and gallant Colonel Hamilton"— as Mr. Woods facetiously called him—the well-known leader of the Opposition, and member for Nadroga, is chosen to fill that post. No doubt, from his legal acumen and versatile talents, lie will make the otlice to be honoured in the of ali men.

An unwarrantable outrage 011 the British flag was committed last Sunday by Mr. D. W. L. Murray, the Hawaiian Consul, and Acting Attorney-General for Fiji. On that day the cutter Volunteer, a British vessel, was brought, into port by a crew which had been despatched after her, there being a claim against her by her lute captain, and which had not been settlod previous to her leaving port. Upon her arrival here Mr. Murray proceeded 011 board, and, lowering the British ensign, hoisted the Fijian flag in its place. Surely, if Mr. Woods succeeds in inducing a British man-of-war to come down here to inquire into Mr. March's conduct, there will be somo disagreeable items of their own which will require settlement.