FIJIAN NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3252, 27 February 1885, Page 3

FIJIAN NEWS.

I (By Telegraph.) (Per 5.3. Arawata at Auckland.) Auckland, Feb. 26. H.M.S. Miranda called at Fiji on tho 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 m coal she proceeded on her course straight for her destination. From tho reticence observed, and her speedy despatch, it was inferred that information of considerable importance concerning the state of affairs m Samoa is m possession of those m command of the vessel, which it is deemed desirable to keep secret meanwhile, and to have forwarded as early as possible to the Imperial authorities. Tabato, a Kanaka charged with attempted murder on the Auckland schooner Agnes Donald, was found guilty on a count of commiting grievously bodily harm, and recommended to mercy on account of the punishment he had already received at the hands of the captain and crew. He received a nominal sentence of imprisonment for one week. The Fiji Times referring to the Hinemoa mystery, says : — "lt can but be regarded as fortunate for the members of the New Zealand Cabinet that they allowed themselves to be governed by His Excellency's strong common sense. They have to congratulate themselves that they had not proceeded before Earl Derby refused to sanction the scheme, for they would have been compelled to beat an ignominous retreat, and m such case they would have looked m vain for the sympathy which Queensland so generally received on tho failure of her attempt on New Guinea. There the effort -was for the attainment of an object of general benefit, by a thoroughly unobjectionable course of action so far as 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 objection as a thoughtless attempt to secure a selfish advantage without the slightest consideration for the strained relations between the Imperial Government and Foreign Powers, which might thereby have been occasioned." A quantity of wreckago has come ashoro at Vauna Levu. It includes a bucket-rack of a large vessel bearing the words " Nil Desperandum, auspice demo."