FIJI NEWS.

Patea Mail, Volume X, Issue 1314, 27 February 1885, Page 3

FIJI NEWS.

[PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, Feb. 26. Her Majesty’s ship Miranda called at Fiji on the 16th on her way from Samoa to Sydney. During her brief stay at Fiji none of her officers landed, and as soon as she had taken in coals she preceded on her course straight for her destination. From the reticence observed, and her speedy despatch, it is inferred that information of considerable importance concerning the state of affairs at Samoa is in possession of those in command of the vessel, which it is desirable to keep secret meanwhile, and to have forwarded as early as possible to the Imperial authorities.

Th<- F‘ji Times, referring to the Hinemoa mystery, says :—“lt can be regarded as fortunate for the members of the NVw Zealand Cabinet that they allowed ill mselves to be governed by His Excel'ency’s strong common sense. They have to congratulate themselves that they had not proceeded before Lord Derby refused to sanction the scheme which would have compelled an ignominous retreat. In such a case they would have looked in vain for the sympathy Queensland so generally reopjved on the failure of the New Guinea attempt. As we have said, their effort was for the attainment of a general benefit by a thoroughly unobjectionable course of action so far as the foreign interests were concerned. This, however, could scarcely be urged as a fair statement with respect to the proposed Hinemoa descent on Samoa. On the contrary, it would have been clearly open to obj-etion as n thoughtless attempt to secure selfish advantage without the slightest consideration for the strained relations between the Imperial Government and Foreign Powers which might thereby have been occasioned,.