OUR FIJI LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7382, 17 July 1885, Page 5

OUR FIJI LETTER.

[rUOM ODE OWN CORKIiSrOSPENT.) Lkvuka, July 6. Ons sugar mills are now all getting to work, and aro turning ont a much better quality of sugar than they did last year. Woodyear's Circus has done well iu tho group, the natives visiting the performances night after uight, and their exolamatious and looks of wonderment were most amusing. They consider that the performers must be in league with the devil. Mr. Woodyearcan now claim to have brought the first circus to Fiji. The Ganges arrived l»st week in Suva with over 500 coolies, which, with tho Mani's cargo, adds 1100 more labourers in the aroup. They have all been allotted to the various mtllowneis. Tee general public seemed pleased to learn that the Gladstone Ministry have resigned. They also look forward to hearing something from New Zealand ro annexation, now that your Parliament h»s assembled. Dr. McGregor, the Administrator, hae devoted several weeks in visiting Vanua, Levu, Rambi, aud Taviuna, so as to make himself acquainted with tue wants of these various p.ircs. The Seabreeze, lata Tubal Cain, which left hern in March for Sydney, is now giveu up as lost. Mr. A. D. Logan, the engineer at Peuang, Mr. Chalmers' sugar mill, was reported last week as being drowned, he having loft the Southern Cross, which vessel was discharging coal there, in * small diugy, to return to his home, but not turning up, Afr. Chalmers sent out search parties, but Logan, alive or dead, could not be fouud. Days passed without any news of him, when all of a sudden he turned up at Penang by a native twat, having been picked up on an island about eixty miles from the mill. He repor's that, one of his paddles breaking, he was helpless to gain the shore, a strong gale off shore blowing at the time, so that he just had to let hie boat drift before the gale. The s 8. lona is expected daily to engage in the interinsnlar trade. The sailing vessels are feeling keenly the presence of steam in the group, and ara gradually leaving their old beats for pastures new, The Government have agreed to allow vessels of twenty tons to carry bonded goods, so as to enable ihe sailing vessels to visit Samoa and Tonga.