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New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6814, 19 September 1883, Page 4

In this issue we publish the first of a series of articles from our special reporter commissioned to report on the Fiji Islands. Of all the gronps in the Pacific which are destined ultimately to be bound by closest we not say also political—ties to New Zealand, Fiji possesses the first interest,, in being the nearest, the most advanced in progress, and haying tho largest commercial intercourse. Situated little over four days' steaming distance from this colony, just Within the limits- of the tropic, having a climate singularly salubrious for the latitude, with a large area of the most fertile soil, capable of producing all things of tropical growth, of growing Sugar enough for the whole civilized world, pte J senting the most picturesque scenery that the heart of man could desire, mountain and valley clothed in verdure of tropical luxuriance, and placed in a setting of tropical seas, this beautiful cluster of islands must be invested with rare attractive interest, to the people of New Zealand. As a field for enterprise for the young and hopeful who wish to tempt fortune under new and different conditions ; as a aphere for the interchange of products of a temperate clime for those of tropical growth, it is at our doors ; and when, as we trugt, in the progress of events, the blighting influence of misgovernment is removed from Fiji, and : that group' is associated with us more closely by political as well as commercial bonds, it will for all time be the most interesting apanage of the Britain of the South. In these circumstances information of the position, progress, and prospects of Fiji should be of importance .to our readeTs,. to whom we Commend the Communications of Our special reporter, the introduciory one of which appears in our other columns to-day.