THE FIJIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 700, 20 August 1870, Page 4

THE FIJIS.

■+-. — . The following, by a correspondent of; the Auckland Herald, contains some items of interest:— As many an Aucklander is looking now with longing eyes towards the Fiji Islands to repair the disastrous effects of over speculation at the Thames Goldfield, I shall give you, according to promise, a few : first impressions after my arrival here in Levuka, tbe capital of tbe islands. Our passage hither by the Dancing Wave occupied exactly ten days. The Queen of the Isles, preceding us by a few: days, accomplished it in about bix. I would- ad viae any, intending immigrant to Fiji to pause before he entrusts himself to a small craft to make a long sea voyage. None but people that have beeu accustomed all their life to rough it are fit for the discomforts of a small sailing craft Whoever has enjoyed a comfortable home and might wish to settle here, should wait until steamers, or larger or more comfortable boatß are put on the berth. Although my stay here has only been nine days, yet I have 6een sufficient

of the place to enable me to give you a general notion of affairs. The appearance of Levuka strongly reminds me of Eussell, Bay of Islands. There is no room to build a large town. High, bare rocks encircle a narrow strip of ground only fit for one street along tbe beach. Tbe harbour is good and safe being protected by a series of coral reefs about two miles from the shore, and which have two large openings to allow vessels to enter with ease. A pilot is hardly required, especially in the day time. I estimate the white population of Levuka at 600. The neighbourhood is swarming wifch natives. Beautiful walks of miles in extent can be enjoyed along the seashore, and the novelty of a luxuriant tropical vegetation strikes a newcomer with delight. The milk of the cocoa-nut is a favourite drink with both white people and natives, and you may pick up as many as you like in walking through the groves. The influx of population has recently been bo considerable that the seven hotels of the place are all crowded, and many a one has to submit to a shake-down in the billiard or dining room. The charges of tbese places are not high, from 25s to 35s a week. Mutton is very dear, from lOd to ls per lb ; of beef there is none at present. Levuka has about a dozen stores, where everything is very dear, in spite of fche absence of customs' duties. Two firms are doing a large business. It is also apparent, from the rapidity with which new buildings (mostly of galvanised iron) are springing up, that a large increase in business is expected. I find there is a general desire here among the trading community to cultivate interceurse with Auckland, owing principally to its being the nearest port of importance. The distance hence to Sydney is nearly double tbat to Auckland. • The difference of temperature between winter and summer is not great ; however it is sufficiently perceptible to be enjoyed by the residents. The thermometer during my short stay here has ranged from 75 to 82 degrees at noon in the shade. Nights are about 10 degrees less. It will therefore be seen that a Levuka winter ib somewhat like a warm Auckland summer. But Levuka has an exceptional climate. It is said to be much hotter than in any other part of the Fiji?, owing principally to its being enclosed on three sides by high rocks, leaving only the sea side to admit a cooling breeze. Bains fall plentifully, but only in showers. Bathing in the sea is little practised, on account of the many sharks, but instead of it a basin of beautifully clear soft water has been formed, by damming up a mountain stream, and this is much frequented by bathers, especially early in the morning. To one who has experienced the many vexations and annoying regulations attached to a custom-house and its duties, the feeling on arriving here is a delicious one ; no custom-house official interferes with you; you do what you like with your goods, without being called upon to pay a cent of duties, and even the ship's boat de* posits your goods free of charge on one of the wharves. It is remarkable also, in a place where there is literally no law, and where so much miscellaneous company [is supposed to congregate, bow very few are instances of crime or rowdyism. | Any outrageous act . against property or person would be settled Lynch law fashion, and it is more tban probable that the dread of this kind of law, and especially public opinion, has so far kept this community in a comparative state of order. Nominally, accounts are kept in dollars at 48 each, but almost any other gold or silver coin is current. Prussian dollars pass for 3s ; 5 franc pieces, 48 ; 2 franc pieceß, Is 6d ; a Napoleon, 16s ; a Spanish dollar, 4s ; a great variety of South American coins from 6d to 4s each. The smallest circulating medium is sixpence. Notes on fche Bank of New Zealand are readily taken without discount. Two missionary chapels exist here, a Soman Catholic and a Wesleyan, in which latter, every alternate Sunday, the service of the Church' of England is performed. Two medical men reside here ; a chemistanddruggiathasalso established himself lately. The Fiji Times is published every Saturday. There are two lurge cotton ginning establishments in Levuka worked by steam, and

more soon will be wanted, as the increase of the production of cotton, which is all shipped from here, is advancing wifch rapid strides. A plantation cannot profitably be commenced with a less capital than £500. The natives have certainly lately commenced to lease their ground for 50 years at from ls to Is 6d per acre per annum ; but even in such a case capital is required to work to advantage, although the first outlay of buying might be saved. The want of proper labour is still the great stumbling block to the success of the growth of cotton. The Fijians, like the Maoris, cannot be relied upon. A number of small schooners have lately left this for islands situated near the line, to procure the required labour, and I know, in some instances proper steps have been taken by the owners of these vessels, to supply themselves with the proper Consular documents, in order to justify their traffic should they be surprised by English men-of-war, who have lately looked upon the fetching of labour to those islands as illicit, without at all drawing the proper line between kidnapping and a voluntary hiring. Most trades are already represented here. Carpenters are in most request; they earn readily 14s a day of 8 hours. Tbere is no shoemaker yet, nor a paperhanger and painter. " Snip "is represented by but one individual. Washing is done at 4s a dozen. I have seen a good many ladies on the beach and in hotels ; mostly wives of intending settlers, dressed in the height of fashion. The Fiji islanders are oi the Papuan race ; they are, physically, inferior to the Maoris, but in industrial pursuits I rank them above them. They | make excellent pottery, a coarse kind of cloth from a native leaf, and they print upon it very chaste patterns. White people wear good broadbrimmed hats, make by Fiji women, regular Spanish " sombreros j" and I may, in conclusion, mention that any intending emigrant from Auckland to these islands bad better leave behind them tbe articles of dress called waistcoats and neckties, aa they are only worn by new chums, and even these soon divest themselves of them.