FIJIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8385, 13 October 1890, Page 3

FIJIAN NEWS.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SurA, October 4. Ox the 29th ult. the British man-of-war Cordelia came into port, and will be here for a week or tea days, having brought a prisoner for trial, the master of a trading craft, who, ib appears, ie charged with shooting a native ; but according to what one of the man-of-war'* men says, it appears to have been an act of self-defence. However, nothing: definite can be said until the evidence is made public. The citizens of Suva were just beginning to pull very long faces at the prospect of provision*, especially flour, running short, and everything going up to famine prices. The signal-nun at Flag-staff Hill, like Sister Ann, lias been anxiously watching to see anything coming, arid great wu3 the excitement on the afternoon of Tuesday, when two steamers were reported in sight, which proved to be the Rockbars from Sydney, and tho long overdue New Zealand steamer, which will keep us right for provisions for some time to come, likely till this weary labour struggle is over. The town and wharf have presented a most deserted and miserable appearance for some time past, no steamer, consequently no bananaboats, with which the harbour is usually crowded, and naturally absolutely nothing doing in the various stores. Tho rise in the price of copra has given an impetus to the collection of this staple of island trade, and if prices continue firm, there will be additional cargo for the steamers, which at the present look to bananas for their return freight almost exclusively. The weather appears to have fairly broken, and there will certainly be no complaints this month an to scarcity of water. On Saturday, the '27th September, it rained a perfect deluge, and we are now hav'ng the regular Fiji weafclwr, rain and a hot nun alternately.

The prospectus of the Fiji Tobacco Com* pany, Limited, has juet been published, capital £3000, in 300 shares of £10 each, of which 91 have already been sub' scribed for by the promoters. The prospectus states that the objects for which the company is established are the cultivation and export of the famous high-priced wrap tobacco, and the Governor has been pleased to grant his countenance to the scheme by putting the company on a more liberal footing as regards the occupation of lands, by promising that if the land selected be crown land, and it can be shown to him in Council that either the subscribed capital of £3000 has been invested in carrying out) the legitimate purposes of the company, or that a bona Me dividend of 5 per cent or over has been declared, a crown grant in fee simple for uot lees than 600 acres will be issued to the company. In the event of native land being; chosen His Excellency has promised to endeavour to acquire it for the Government and then leaso it to the company for a period not exceeding fifty years, first year at a rental of fid per acre, second year Is per acre, third to fifth years inclusive Is 6d per acre, and for the balance of the term at 4s per acre. Ib is proposed to commence operations with from 70 to 100 acres under the direction of the Mr, E. J. Lanyon mentioned in my former letters.

The committee have made up an estimate for 70 acres based upon a maximum expenditure and minimum returns, which shows a profit of 25 per cent., and a possibility of a 100 per cent, dividend. Of course, we all know that prospectuses are generally colour de rose, and that there is often a terrible discrepancy between profits estimated and realised, but under ordinary circumstances, and bar hurricane?, there does not seem to be any reason why the enterprise should not be at any rate moderately successful, and the anticipated profit of 25 per cent, realised. The Commissioner for Lands and Works has announced that he has a quantity of rice seed for distributfon, which planters can obtain upon application. I mentioned once before that the cultivation of rice had been tried on the Rewa River with great success as far as quality was concerned, bub the obstacles to competition with India was the cost of black labour ; if this can be overcome, which is not likely, as labour can be obtained in India for 3 or 4 annaa a day (3d to 4sd). and in Fiji it costs from 8d to Is (that is, 8d with rations, Is without). Even with freight and duty added India will, be able to undersell us in the local market.

A gentleman of colour, a native of Ra, named Timoci, being etirred to bocomo a lender of men, and thinking, doubtless, that what was sauce for the goose was sauce for the gander, incited the Fijiana who were engaged in discharging the s.s. Rockton to strike like the white men, and demand 4s per diem, instead of the regular 2s. However, tho Customs' officer in charge appeared to have something to ?ny in the matter, and on the blacL orator becoming very insulting, and hustling the Customs' official, the latter, who had no Exeter Hall nonsense about him, run this bumptious nigger in, and the next day he found that the Magistrate so far appreciated hia talents that he provided him with a Government situation for sij months, where he will have constant employment, rations, and a sulu bearing the simple device of a broad arrow, and the letters " 3.G." Alas for the 4a a-day ! He had asked 'or ib whore the feathery palm trees grow, but the answer was " Not there, not there my child !" Tho projected strike collapsed with the departure of the promoting agitator, and tho 40 natives who had been "called out" returned to work quietly at their old rates.