FIJI NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5995, 3 February 1881, Page 6

FIJI NEWS.

liv the s.s. Southern Cross we have' Fiji files to the 22nd ultimo, from which we'select the following; items :—.' /; [\.. .....;"..": ~, ... -

The movement initiated during the recent; visit of the Right; Rev., Bishop Selwynifor. the formation of a Melanesian school; i& connection with the Church of England in Fiji; appears to be already on the decline.,.; < ; \ A report has just reached Lomaloma from Lakemba, to the effect that ; the Orpheus (Tui Bua's cutter) was a total wreck on. that island. . .. , ;.- -_. : ... 'i' ■.- ./. i-

The brigantine Gael, •which, arrived in.port on the 9th inst., is the last of.the;neetiof : labour recruiting vessels despatched timing the year 1S&.0. The record,.for : the year, is eminently satisfactory, as will be gathered from the following figures ':—The 13jvessels: employed'made 27 trips, introducing ,2534 labourers. The deaths during the voyage amounted only to 10, or a percentage o£ 0 - 3 S. When this is contrasted with, the result of the disastrous coolie experiment, the marked difference'is at once apparent. The Leonidas left with 434 coolies on board, out of which 17 died before her arrival in this port, or. a percentage of 3-0. To this lias-to,be superadded the advantage derived from the intro-. d notion of cholera and small-pox, and the amount expended in effectually stamping out these diseases.. Then follows the tax upon. thti general revenue incurred in maintaining the majority of these people in comparative, idleness for a period of eighteeii: months, and the general balance of the account may be: accepted in proof of the benefits of coolie v. Polynesian labour immigration. '..'■■■'■ The Marine Board enquiry into the causes v/hieh led to the late wreck of the labour, schooner Dauntless, was concluded on the 11th January, and resulted in the certifiCD tes of both the master and the chief oSicer being suspended for twelve months. A shock of earthquake was experienced at Gau on the sth January. The vibration occasioned excited a good deal of alarm' amongst the few white residents, but,the natives say that similar visitations are not at all uncommon. .:.:!■

The- mission schooner Jubilee has been purchased by the enterprising firm of A.M. Brodziak and Co., and will in. future be employed in intercourse amongst their numerous stations in the surroundinu groups. She has recently been fitted out by. Mr. J. Scott, and has a trim and weatherty :appearatice. ■■-_•-' ■••.■•■:.■.".■ •■•'■■