NEWS FROM FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11643, 3 May 1901, Page 3

NEWS FROM FIJI.

We give the following items of Fiji news from papers brought by the s.s. Hanvoto last night : —

.Che criminal sessions opened on April 11, Ciliof Justice Sir Henry Berkeley pros,ding' The calendar was a fairly formidable one, the large majority of the cases being charges against Indian coolies. Indrasaa was charged with the murder of one Hansraji, an Indian woman, residing at Labasa. The accused was found guilty and sentenced to death. Karncheran was charged with attempted murder at Ba, and was found guilty and sentenced to eight years' hard labour. .Tabu Was charged with murder. The accused pleaded not guilty, ami was defended by Mr. Scott. The charge was one of taking the lite of one Lulrpatia, an Indian female. at Natata, Kavua; on January 12. A verdict of guilty was recorded, and sentence of death followed.

The tfazette, issued on April 19, proclaims the port of Laatoka a port of entry from and after June 1 next. Mr. E. M. Booth, the recently assigned stipendiary magistrate of the district, will attend to the collection of Customhouse levies. The corpse of a Mr. Charles Riley, a sailmaker, and a denizen of Suva for a number of years past, was found floating in the harbour on April 16, by the harbourmaster. Captain YVoolley. The body was convevod on shove, and exhibited no marks of violence For some time past the deceased had been suffering from rheumatism, and exhibited a somewhat stolid mood, which was attributed to his ailment. Mr. Charles Forster, waterman, states that he was in ids company until about ten o'clock on Monday n ; ght. at his house on the teach. Forefer than went to sleep, and this is the last known of the deceased.

Ihe contingent of Fiji armed native constabulary, numbering 25 all told, designated to proceed to Australia to lend their presence at the demonstration which is due to take place at the opening of the first Parliament, left Suva by the sttamer Manaponri. The unit comprises the Commandant (Colonel Claude Francis), and Lieutenant Eatu li'ereime, Qasitakatini. a sergeant-major, sergeant, corporal, lance corporal, 18 privates and a bugler. The Ilev. A. J. Small! chairman of the Weeleyan Church in Fiji, left by the Mauapouri to attend the triennial conference to open at Brisbane on May 17. Detective Macmanamny. of the Victorian police department, arrived by the steamer Birksgato, at Fiji, fortified with the necessary documents lor the extradition of J. 11. Grey, solicitor of Geelong, charged with fraud of a considerable amount of money. The detective and his prisoner left for Melbourne by the return Birksgate.