FIJI NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5633, 5 December 1879, Page 6

FIJI NEWS.

By the schooner Ovalau we have Fiji papsrs I to the 15th ulfc., from which we extract the following : — H.B.M. s.s. Eimrald, brought to Levuka for trial before the High Commissioner's Coutt, a half-caste named James Knowles. The prisoner stands charged with the murder of tho Master of the German brie Adolpho. A second charge will also be preferred against him for the murder of a Portuguese named Andrews, in June, IS7S. Knowlea was arrested by the Commander of the lleuard, and by him handed over to the captain of the corvette Dana.' duriug her late cruise amongst tho Polynesian groups. Thence he was removed to the Emerald, and by her left in custody here on the occasion of her late visit. li s trial before the High Commissioner's Court will shortly take place. H.M.'s. ship of war Emerald left Fiji for Samoa and Tonga on November 12, with His Excellency tho High Commissioner and suite. Tho Emerald is to be expected back in Levuka in from three to four weeks' time. The German ship of war liismarck arrived in Fiji on November 1U from Samoa. Wo understand that she came to this port with tho hope of finding coals, but being disappointed in lier object will return to .Samoa immediately. The new Consul-General for Germany, lately appointed for the Pacific, was a passenger to Apia fn>m Sydney in the Bisma' ck. She sailed for Samoa a few hours after H.M.S. Emerald. The Wesleyan Mission brig John Wesley was ready to take her departure for New Britain November 14, but the wind falling light she is detained for a favourable breeze, and will leave on the first opportunity. The Rev. George Brown, accompanied by a few teachers, proceeds in ber, and en route will cdl in at iiotumih. A very graceful compliment was paid by H.I.M.S. Bismarck to H.B.M.S. Emerald. On the ensign being hoiited at S a.m., the band on board the lirst-named vessel, after sal'.iting its own Hag, played "God save th• Queen," in honour of that of Great Britain. It must be a source of great regret to the English ship that she lias no similar means of acknowledging the courtesy. By late labour vessels s=veral immigrants were again returned to tli-ir homes. Upon examination, although with the exception of a slight "grogiuess " in the legs, the men appeared healthy enough, the Chief Medical Officer discovered Bymptons of serious orginic disease which decided him not to pass them as labourers. The Mai ion lleunie will also return two in like case. Such a course o? action will relieve the employer from expense atul annoyance, and secure to the men that measure of assistance and supyort their tribal lelations may be disposed to accord to them in case of misfortuue overtaking them. There is at present in the Levuka Hospital a htsus naturo•- of a very curious character, viz., a Fiji man with two heads, or rather that which to a casual observer appears to be so ; the apparent monstrosity being caused by a protuberance from the forehead of the patieut, which has attamed a size equal to tho head, from which it is pendent, while as it is perfectly round, and covered with hair on the top it presents all the appearauce of a second head. This deformity occasions no inconvenience to its possessor, whose only reason for seeking for its removal is that his countrymen are all frightened at the grotesque figure he presents. The operation necessary to remove a tumour of such largo proportions will be a very delicate one, and will no doubt be successfully performed under the skilful hauds of the Chief Medical Officer.