OUR FIJI LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8066, 6 October 1887, Page 5

OUR FIJI LETTER.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Levoka, September 22. Business is certainly very dull. Some attri" bute this to the natives being occupied with their planting of crop*. The BUgar mills still continue to turn out a fair quantity of sugar. The arrivals during the month have been : —The French man-o'-war Le Deor&s, which vessel remained for a few days, and then Bailed for Wallis Island and Samoa ; Elizabeth, schooner, from Samoa; Saucy Lass, from Roturaah; Gunga, from Sydney; Taupo, from Melbourne. The departures have beenGunga and Spunkie, for Sydney; Taupo, for Melbourne, via Norfolk Island and Lord Howe's Island : the Union Company having arranged to call at these places under contraot with the New South Wales Government. The Sharpshooter, with sugar from Ba, has sailed for Auokland. The public are waiting anxiously for news from Europe as to why tho Germans have been allowed to virtually annex Samoa. Mr. Duncan, manager of the Fiji Trading Company, (late MoEwans), has been called to the Legislative Council, and it is considered ho will be a most useful member. The Hod. G. Morgan at the last mooting of Council showed how the Government had accepted a lower tender from a Suva merchant for the purchase of tho tax copra than was offered by a JLevuka merchant. The Government, in a very lame way, tried to justify their action, but it is quite apparent to all parties that it was done to bolster up Suva. It is perhaps only fair to Sir Charles Mitchel to say that the accepting of the tender was carried into sffeot by Sir John Bates Thurston as Acting' Governor whilst the Governor was at Tonga. Dr. Skohowo is at present medical officer here, Dr. Beith having gone to Suva for a change, ho not having bean well for gome little time.

The Rev. Mr. Jones, Church of England clergyman in charge of Suva, was married on the 6th to Miss Josko. . The Governor was present at the ceremony, besides a large concourse of people. Mr. Rankine Wilson, late of Forest Creek coffee plantation, tried to commit suicide by jumping overboard from the s.s. Fijian, whilst the vessel was on her passage to Sydney. He was rescued by Mr. Fisher, the second officer of the steamer, who jumped in after him and kept him afloat till the boat osme to their assistance. Mr. Wilson has been in the asylum at Suva for some time, and was being transferred to a Sydney Asylum. Captain Stammerjohann and three coolies w;re drowned by the capsizing of a boat near Kaeo, off north end of Vanua, Levu. Mr. Kraft, who was also in the boat, had a narrow escape. The Meg Merrilies has arrived at Suva with 60 recruits, and the captain reports the schooner Christina, Captain MoLever, as having sailed from Meko for Auckland with copra. Tho Levuka is still in port loading copra for Europe, Captain Qansi, the master of the vessel, who is well known to many in Auckland, is regarded as one of the most genial German commanders who visits this port. Cocoanut oil is now being imported into this market by the Australian steamers. This does not; speak well for the Auckland oil mills to allow themselves to be cut out. The coolies use a considerable quantity of this oil with their rice.

The Fijian leaves for Sydney with a small cargo of fruit, but will probably take in a large number of bananas at Suva. Mr. Small, who has been in business here for some years, has sold out his sawmill to Mr. C. Housings, as Mr. Small purposes taking a trip to the old country. Monsiijnor Vidal, who arrived by the s.n. Fijian, has been appointed Vicar-Apoßtolio of Fiji. From letters received from Victoria, it appears that the annexation of Fiji to that colony is being warmly supported, and that a. large amount of capital is ready to be invested in Fiji, should these islands becomo annexed to Victoria.

The Southern Cross has returned from Tonga, but brings no news of importance. The Opal has visited Tonga.