FIJI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3110, 30 January 1871, Page 3

FIJI.

The Fiji correspondent of the «' Sydney Morning Herald" writes thus (date not" given) of the recent disturbances : — " We have had a real battle in Levuka. What would the people of Sydney think of spears flying, guns firing, aud stones being thrown in George or Pitt street, and some 500 yelling natives hard at work trying to cave in one another's heads. It happened in this wise :— Maafu came here on Tuesday last, in obedience to a summons from Captain Challis and Mr March, to answer why he had broken his treaty with the American Government and interfered with Thakombau's people. The Rosario having done all Captain Ohallis thought wortny of attempting, steamed away for Sydney, and Maafu, when he came in answer to the summons, brought his fleet— the Xarifa, a yacht that once graced Port Jackson: the schooner Caroline, 30 tons ; the ketch JuiNayou, 25 tons, late the Barb: and the cutter Prince, a loan or gift from King George of Tonga. On board these vessels, Maafu had, besides his chosen followers, some 280 prisoners taken at Benga, the island belonging to the Polynesian Company (if they can get it.) Mnafu and his son — a precocious youth of some twenty summers, who believes in common with all Tonga men, that the earth and its belongings were created for Tongese— finding the Rosario had gone, swaggered through the streets of Levuka. Master Charles, in a gorgeous suit of clothes, and as much jewelry as a member of a Christy Minstrel Company affects, strutted about, treating his swash-bucklers to plentiful "goes" of their favorite beverage — gin ; and no one but those who are acquainted with them can know how offensively a Tonga man can be when primed. A publican of the name of Keyse, wishing to improve his property at the mouth of Levuka Creek, agreed with Maafu to pay him a certain sum if his 230 prisoners were allowed to do the work, and the men were marched ashore and set about it. Now, one would think that the Fijian inhabitants would look with pity on prisoners of their own country, but no ; they argue, like Napoleon, that prisoners should not allow themselves to be taken alive ; besides, the Tonga overseers ordered them to take stones from the other side of the creek, which is ground in dispute between the natives and the French mission. The Fijiana ordered Maafu's men to stop, and their command being taken no notice of, they set upon the men in the bed of the creek. Maafu stood looking from the bank, and a friend of his a "new cbum," named Gwynne, foolishly rushed in to help a distressed Tonga man. Maafu then ordered the Benga'men on board, and they commenced a retreat towards the jetties, followed by hundreds of Fijians, who were momentarily receiving accessions to their numbers. The retreat soon became a disorderly flight, and the Benga men and Fijians rushed at full speed along the beach, on which all the principal houses of business stand. At the cutting in the middle of the town they separated, some of them rushing into the water amidst a perfect hail of large stones and spears. One gun only was fired, and that without effect. The larger portion of the fugitives made for the south end of the beach opposite where Maafu's vessels were anchored. The Fijians now mustered some hundreds, and were srmed with weapons of all descriptions, such as clubs, waddies, bayonets lashed on sticks, and had their natural projectiles in the shape of large 6tones in any number. The flying Maafians reached Messrs Henuing's jetty, and jumped off in dozens, the pursuers pelting them with all manner of missiles. A good many heads were broken, and one arm. The men on board the fleet saw all the proceedings, prepared all their arms, and put off for the shore, and the Fijians retired to the hills at the back of the town to wait the attack. The Tongese rushed up to Keyse's place, anxiously inquiring for Maafu and his son, and occupied Levuka beach. The consuls friend got hold of Maafu, and walked him off to the consulate, and Tui Levuka and Ratu Mcli attended. Four residents were asked to assist Mr March, but the press was excluded. Maafu told the consul and the Fijian chiefs that he would burn down the native town of Levuka if reparation was not made, and laid his damages at £30, and some sort of compromise was made. The Fijians guarded the town all night, ami fired frequent volleys to show they were all ready for attack. The next day Maafu got his fleet under way, and went through some nautical evolutions inside the reef, firing/ews dejoie in bravado. Yesterday and to-day the Levuka natives have had a big talk, and are now buying all the muskets they can, and are determined to have a fight with the Rewa chiefs, and consequently Maafu, and perhaps Tui Hakau and Tui Bua. The Levoni men who dwell in towns in the middle of Ovalau were all ready to help Maafu, and the talk is partly with them. Maafu left yesterday. The charter granted by Thakombau in lieu of the Constitution was strangled last night at a meeting of house and land holders. The words * police regulations' frightened most of the residents, who imagined such powers might be abused. "Mr Thatcher, editor of the " Fiji Times,*' received a letter from Captain Challis* written on board the Rosario, November 23, yet not delivered to him till December 3, and then bearing the big seal of the consulate. It threatened him with an action for conspiracy for certain articles in the " Times," which Captain Challis alleges were beyond the bounds of fair criticism. This letter was not delivered till after last Saturday's issue, which animadverted on the consul, shows that it was evidently left for Mr March to hold in terrorem,