FIJIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7000, 24 April 1884, Page 5

FIJIAN NEWS.

The Suva Times say«:—"A day or two ago we' saw a letter received from a firm in London doing an extensive business, and which was addressed to ' Levnka, New Zealand. , " . • . . ■ -

The- Fiji Times of April 6 eays :—"■ His Excellency the Governor makes but a short stay in the colony, as he returns to Sydney by the Cintra, leaving this morning. Current report is to the effeot that he will not return to Fiji again, as the climate does not agree either with his own health or that .of his family." The subject of religious instruction in State schools has cropped up in Suva, with the nsual result of creating divieion of opinin. A murder is reported from Savusavu district of a somewhat curious kind. A Fijian loves the daughter of a man who does not care to have him for a son-in-law. On a day father and daughter are in their yam patch, busily at work, when Lothario appears upon the scene, armed with a spear, lie proposes to the girl to elope with him into the biieb. There is a very ,proper demur, and the savage spears the old man through-the body. The girl runs screaming into the village, and the murderer - betakes himself to the jungle. In reply to the request that he should include the Fiji Islands in his charge, the Bishop of Auckland writes :—" I would gladly be of any help I could -to our people in those islands, but it would bo quite- impossible for me to comply with the request of the Church Committee in Suva that I should be their Bishop. .The diocese of Auckland is already too large to be properly, cared for by ouo Bishop without the aid of a chaplain, secretary, or clerk; and I should feel it absolutely wrong to undertake any additional Kpisoopal responsibility. . I had hoped the Bishop of Melanesia might be . able to visit the Fiji Islands .occasionally, especially ae a good many of the Melanesians seem to find their way to Suva and. Levuka from time to time, and I still hope that when the funds of the mission shall enable him to maintain a larger staff of European missionaries he may be able to do so. I feel it only right, however, to add that 1 do not expect that the Church at Fiji will be in a vigorous condition until it is completely organised according to primitive order by haying a Bishop of its own resident at Suva." , . ;

One thousand Fijians have joined the Blue Ribbon Army.

Miss Bennett, formerly of Pomonby, has bean appointed mistress of the Levuka Board School. '

Tea culture is extending. . At Tavrani the planters use local tea in preference to the imported article.