FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4419, 12 January 1876, Page 3

FIJI.

From the Fiji papers, brought by the Llewellyn, and from other sources, we extract the following news :—

The Star of the South had made a most ' successful trip among ■ the Islands,and arrived at Levuka just before the Llewellyn sailed. She is quite certain to do well on her next trip also. The Llewellyn brings 54 tons of sugar for Maitland and Co., of Dunedin, and she is promised a full cargo next trip. The Times, of the Ist January, say 3 :—" The Star of the South has brought some 54 tons of sugar from the plantation of Messrs. Maitland Brothers, for shipment, per Llewellyn, to Auckland, and we are informed that the same firm will have at least an equal quantity ready by next trip. We learn that in order to facilitate operations and save expense, these gentlemen have laid down some miles of tramway, so as to bring the sugar to the mills with infinitely less delay and trouble than has hitherto been experienced. The enterprise of tWs firm, and their steady perseverance against almost unheard-of difficulties and discouragement, deserve the warmest encomium ; and it is to be earnestly hoped—as well for their own sake as that of the colony—that their undertaking may richly repay their skill and outlay." A regatta was held at Levuka oil Isew Year's Day. It was very successful, and was under the patronage of his Excellency the Governor.

Christmas and the succeeding days passed off very quietly; too much so, indeed, for some people, one o£ whom was heard to declare that a holiday in Levuka was about equal to three days solitary confinement elsewhere. We presume that the experience of this individual is entitled to all the weight which it deserves, as he would scarcely speak of that with which he was unacquainted. On Christmas night the town was serenaded by a number of Tanna men and Solomon Islanders, who discoursed a not uneloquent music upon reeds, the time being infinitely better marked than the melody, which, to say nothing of the monotony, possessed too much of the bagpipe drone to be gratifying to uneducated ears. We are credibly informed that several planters in the group have lately imported coffee seed with a view to commence'operations with respect to that valuable article. Mr. Mason,.of Taviuni, has begun to clear a large area of land for that purpose, and entered into arrangements with a gentleman of large experience to superintend'the working. 'Ihe steamer plying between Sydney and Fiji is to be withdrawn. This will confirm the trade to Auckland.

The sugar plantations at Row a are looking up well. The Argus says :—Fiji contains some of the finest sugar lands in the world, and the two matters requiring settlement to make it a large sugar-exporting country are the speedy issuing of Crown grants and the introduction of Coolie labour upon the plan sketched by the Governer last September. Mr. Gustave Hennings has been appointed to a seat in the Legislative Council. The Fiji Times, referring to the last arrival of the Llewellyn, says :—'' The Llewellyn has brought a variety of matters calculated to improve the bills of fare of our fel-low-residents. Amongst other novelties are some green peas, not preserved, but in their natural state; and the expeditions trips ■which the vessel now makes will enable some of the enterprising market gardeners of Auckland to forward more of the products with which New Zealand abounds, and in which Fiji is so poor. Should they do so, they may rely upon a profitable trade." The Land Commissioners are sitting at Tavauni.

The Fiji Argus o£ the 17th ulfc. has the following respecting au old Auckland, citizen :—" Our facetious and erstwhile contemporary Mr. Stanley Lowe, having received intimation of the decease of a near relative in England, determined at once upon seceding from liis editorial chair, and making arrangements for quitting the colony at as early a period as he could manage to complete them. He advertised his intention in both papers, and thus publicly directed all claims against-him to be forwarded for liquidation to his attorney, Mr. Forwood. This •was dons on Friday or Saturday last, and we believe our literary friend had no greater affliction, did not suffer more acutely from ' a complaint in the chest,' as the late Mr. Theodore Hook, on returning from Mauritius, designated this disease, than perhaps others who were fain to prescribe for him, yet we regret to say, he had to submit to the trenchant and painful operation of Ga. Re., and he was landed in Mr. Cox's hotel at Totoga, on Saturday afternoon, to undergo its tortures. So soon as it was known Mr. Lowe had been subjected to this rough treatment, several of his friends waited upou him, and offered substantial relief in the way of a plaister denominated "bail," or even a relief from the blister the physicians had inflicted in the wayof his dismissal bypaymont of the demand made. But Mr. Lowe's friends advised him to remain in the unpleasant .shades beneath which he had been committed, as it was not improbable that ample " Sat" could bo had on reference to the principal Health Officer, the Chief Justice. On Tuesday application was made to Sir "William Hackctt, for the relief of the Ex-Editor, which was promptly accorded. And His Lordship will, we understand, shortly adjudicate the differences between Mr. Lowe and his would-be phlebotamisers, in an action for damages for malicious arrest that is to be tried."