FIJI STEAM SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4398, 17 December 1875, Page 3

FIJI STEAM SERVICE.

Thb b.s. Llewellyn returned to Auckland on Nov. 27, from Lftvuka, and we are glad to know that Mr. Macfarlane and Mr. Lodder have been as successful as cduld have been anticipated in making arrangements for the maintenance of a' steam service to- connect Auckland and Levuka, and another to connect the many islands of the Fiji archipelago with Levuka. The Assembly of New Zealand agreed to vote £2400 for a subsidy to the service connecting Auckland with Fiji, or £150 for sixteen trips per annum, and the Governor of Fiji, with the consent of his Council, has agreed to recommend that a subsidy of £300 per month should be paid for the establishment of a service to connect the islands with the harbour of Levuka, which will be the port of arrival and departure of the Auckland steamer. The Government of Fiji are not empowered to grant a subsidy for an ocean service, but we believe they will recommend to Earl Carnarvon, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that a subsidy should be granted to the Llewellyn, equal to that given by the New Zealand Government. The Star of the South has left here to take up the inter-insular service, while the Llewellyn will connect Levuka and Auckland. The Llewellyn is a full ship, bringing as much cargo and as many passengers as she could find room for. The increased production of sugar may be judged from the fact that about 40 tons per month are shipped from i>ie Rewa Plantation Company to Melbourne. The sugar goes to Melbourne because the proprietary of the company is in that city, thus proving the truth of the argument we have oftsn used on this important point. The Messrs. Maitland, old Otago residents, send by the Llewellyn samples of 100 tons sugar that she is to bring next trip for the Duncdin market. The new steam service was inaugurated at Levuka by a grand dinner on board the Llewellyn.