LATEST FIJI NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4270, 21 July 1875, Page 3

LATEST FIJI NEWS.

[per 'star ok the south.'] From tiles received per Star of the South from Fiji, we make the following extracts:— We learn from a correspondent that at present about 154 natives have died from measles on the island of Cicia, out of §25. The survivors aro now beginning to "get round. Everything for the cotton picking is looking most favourable, and we anticipate heavy crops. Picking will be commenced at once if the weather holds fine. The death of Eugene O'Sullivau, at Kewa, is recorded, as also that of Mr. Hawkesley, at Levuka. We learn that his Excellency admired the sceuery at Savu Savu, but was not sufficiently impressed with it as to think of it for a capital ; in fact, we have it on good authority that Levuka is very favourably entertained by Sir Arthur. The only question that will arise will be in dealing with private interests. Dr. Cruickshauk has been appointed assistant medical ollicer and assistant health ollioer in Levuka. We were present the other day at a sale of some tobacco-leaf in Levuka. The purchaser was taking about 200 lbs. to make cigars of, and paid Sd. per lb. for it. He spoke in very high terms of its quality, and said the cigars he made for his own consumption alone were to him preferable to llavannahs. At Sd per lb., tobacco would be worth some £I~> a ton. Already there is a very marked difference in the management of affairs in ollicial ijuarters, for instead of protracted delays being of every day occurrence, even in the answering of letters, all correspondence to the Government receives a prompt answer on the most trivial subjects. The Gazette says :—The dinner given to the Hon. J. P.. "Thurston on Wednesday evening last, by gentlemen unquestionably representing the wealth, enterprise, and intelligence of Fiji, was only a fitting tribute to a public man, who, called to the position he first assumed by the voices of the most influential constituency in the colony, has always brought to bear the admirable qualifications of a politician, having only one direct course to pursue during the whole period of his official career, aud pursuing it spite of the noisy clamour of a disappointed clique, bent only on their own selfish euds. Probably in the history of the colony, never will a statesman be called upon to conduct public affairs through times so troublesome, or under circumstances so perplexing as those of Mr. Thurston's period of office.