FIJI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIV, Issue 1442, 27 July 1860, Page 3

FIJ I.

(From (he Sydney Morning Jlernld.) Thk following has been received from a resident at Fiji : —

Portj&Hjnaird, Fiji, Hlli May, 18>0

My Dear Sir,— You will be pleased to hear that our new settlement is progressing favourably. Already we count thirty souls, and every one in good spirits. Several of the town lots are taken up, and mauy more of the hundred aero allotments: The first store is commenced — the first sign-board in Fiji has shown itself over tho blacksmith's door, and the half-dozen carpenters have as much work as they can do. Those who have taken up the farming lots are busily engaged clearing their lands for cotton. They have all been able to procure native labourers, to fell the trees, clear off the bush, and to work generally in the field. The readiness the natives have evinced to labour has exceeded my most san^ guine expectations. They are all paid in cloth, or other merchandise. A wharf has been made by the Consul — a rude one, made of stones and logs, run out for the convenience of boats. Altogether, things wear a promising aspect, if we do not unfortunately get too great aud too sadden an influx of settlers. This would, [ fear, retard our progress. While yet in our infancy, too sudden a growth would create an excitement prejudicial to native as well as to English, interests. The best understanding prevails between the new comers and the natives. The Consul advised each settler first to plant an acre or two of yams aud sweet potatoes, and cassava and maize, and then to plant cotton, so as to render them independent of native supplies as quickly as possible. I am now really in hopes of seeing cotton produced by Fiji, in a large quantity, and you will be glad to have so near you a source of freight for your English ships, after wool season, instead of having to send them to China or Valparaiso, seeking for cargoes. The largest gathering of ootton here will be from June to October or November, I think.

Wo now imperatively require the aid and power of a systematic Government. While their are only a few settlers, the Consul can manage to keep everything straight and quiet, with the influence he has over the chiefs, and with the good sense of the majority of the whites. But soon there will bo more than an official can look after. To oarry out the experiment, to obtain cotton from Fiji, we want a gaverninent, we waut the British flag over us The chiefs are daily pressing as to the delay, for already do they see the benefits that will accrue to them as well as to us. The native population is daily becoming more anxious to see the flag over them, and our laws accompanying it. All hitherto done has been managed wholly by moral force, for there has been no physical force to whioh to apply for aid. All now depends on Col. Smythe. If he only take the pains and the trouble to sift the minds of the natives, he will soon be convinced of their desire. One thing I must advert to : from the very nature of this people, they can never get up anything like the New Zealand war. They are not a warlike race, but essentially a trading people. There is too much jealousy, and rivalry among the chiefs ever to udmit of any combined hostile movement. You would find that this jealousy and rivalry is also one of the most potent prompters to cede the islands to the Queen ; beoause they know they will then have a ohief over them who will kaep each oue within his proper limits, aud that which they approve most of all is, that this chief will not be one of themselves — the very reverse of. the sate of affairs in New ZeaZealand.

But they require management. Every inch of laud is o.vnec' in Fiji, from the hill top to the ooral reef at its base. Yet there will be no indisposition to sell the immense tracts of unoccupied land at very modarate terms, it they are honestly and openly dealt with. The moment there is any appearance of secrecy and tampering, they will beoome distrustful. My experience teaohes me one simple fact. Oaoe get the confidence of the native — let him see you are his friend, without being bis familiar, and you may lead him as you like. Bat, again, once let him discover double dealing, and he is stubborn aud useless.

Again referring to the oottou question, A site has boon reserved for one of the cotlou gins scut by the Cotton Supply Association, in the middle of the town, so that any one may have access to it who has cotton to clean. I calculate that each planter will procure at least one third m >re cotton from an acre of land at Fiji than in America; for while in the latter country the cotton plant has to be renewed each year (whioh incurs additional labour and outlay, as well as loss of time), here we have our trees fl mrishing all the year round, besides the saving of labour and outlay and required to plant every year. To supply the soil as the cotton tree impoverishes it, it is requisite to plant pumpkins, maize, sweet potatoes. &o. f &«., between the trees, after the first year, an. l to allow tho leaves and vines to become soil where they grew. Or, if the planters have only industry enough to sow ths ootlou, he may let the grass and weeds grow all over the plantation, takiug care, however, to keep down the trees that would overtop the cotton tree.

Our spacious and beautiful harbour is the admirathu of every one. Souu i\v> or three men, who have been for ycma residing at Levuka, have made it th«ir business to deory Port Kinnaird ; bat the place only requires to be seen to be admired. Nothing whatever can possibly harm a vessel as she swings to her moorings, uml the facilities for running out w'i r es are eveiywh^re. There certain'y is no harbour like it in Fiji. I write cautiously, and within the truth.

Wo waul more missionaries; without them our task is much more dirfieul . It is very well for those who wish only to amuse themselves with the natives, or to buy their oil or beche-le-mer with iron hoop, and madapolams, to decry the missionary and his work. But an impartial observation tells me the missionary is absolutely necessary to teach the savage to give up his heathenism — and then the trader or the plauter, may supply him with cloth, and get his honost labour. If the Wesleyans cannot send more men, let the Churchmen— let ihtf Congregationalists — the Baptists step forward to help us. There is room for all.

P.S. — The three-masted sohooner Vistula,! from Melbourne, isg lying off the uew towuship, an-! to-monow begins to disoharge her cargo. She brought a .out 20 persons from Melbourne.