D.—No. 22.

NO. 1. Bepoet by John B. Thtjeston, IT.M. Consul in Fiji and Tonga, for the Tear 1866. The following Statement of the Tonnage and Shipping employed in the trade with Fiji during 1866 shows a slight increase on that of the preceding year : — Estimated aggregate tonnage, 1865, 3,326 ; 1866, 4,024. Number of ships employed—British, 1865, 23 ; 1866, 27. Foreign (Hamburgh), 1865, 3 ; 1866, 3. Quantity and Value of Exports during 1866, compared with the two preceding Years.

At the commencement of the year the prospects of the white settlers in Fiji seemed moat favourable. The success which had attended the cultivation of the cotton, the introduction of foreign labour, and the arrival of additional settlers with capital, induced us to form most sanguine hopes of the rapid advancement of Fiji. On the Bth of January, however, a violent hurricane passed between the two larger islands of Fiji, lasting sixteen hours, and severely injuring the district in its course. The effects were confined within a space of sixty miles in breadth, outside of which no traces of its passage appeared. The cotton planters had hardly repaired the damages which their property had sustained from this visitation, when a second storm burst over the entire group, committing still greater devastation. The cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees especially suffered. Two-thirds of the cotton trees were twisted out of the ground, and the most advanced plantations, on the banks of the river, were inundated and swept away. The yam and tara crops were destroyed, and many flourishing coffee plantations buried in the silt brought down by the floods. Such violent cyclones, it is well to know, are rare in Fiji, and one of equal force has not been felt here for twenty years. The cotton planters, men of small means, who had invested all in their plantations, were reduced to great distress ; but seeing the necessity of rapid exertion to repair the evil, they began their labour anew, clearing the land and planting the seed afresh. A long drought, which generally in these latitudes follows such violent storms, has however somewhat checked the growth of the plants. Had this year been as favourable as the preceding one, there was reason to expect that the exports from Fiji would have been four times the quantity of last year ; but the destruction of the nut trees and cotton crops, and likewise the loss of many of the small craft which carry on the Island trade, gave a severe check to the progress and industry of the country, which it will take some time to recover from. The advent of fresh settlers has, however, done much in inspiriting those whose resolution sank with their fortunes. There are likewise less difficulties than heretofore attending the sale of lands; and the great obstacle to progress —want of labour in sufficient quantity —is being gradually overcome by the introduction of native labour from the surrounding islands. "With increased capital has come a. more careful system of cultivation, the introduction of a better description of food for the labourers.

REPORTS ON THE NAVIGATION, TRADE, AND CONDITION OF THE FIJI ISLANDS.

181 !4. 15. 181 !6. Aeticie. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. £ £ £ Cotton (clean) ... Cocoanut Oil Cocoa Fibre Eeche-de-Mer Tortoise Shell ... Wool Provisions, &c. ... cwts. tons cwts. piculs lbs. lbs. 650 600 1,600 350 500 6,100 3,000 13,200 2,150 960 250 240 2,400 500 1,000 500 750 10,120 9,200 11,000 1,500 1,200 375 400 500 5,880 450 300 2,000 8,396 19,800 9,000 600 1,000 320 250 £19,800 £24,175 £30,970 The quantities of imports cannot be accurately ascertaine ;he Island trade. The following is an approximate estimate of ed, on acco f their vak ount of the irregula: ue during 1866 : —■ nature of Manchester Goods Ironmongery, Cutlery ... "Wine, Beer, Spirits Ship Chandlery Groceries, Provisions, ... Wearing Apparel Tobacco Machinery, Agricultural Implements £ s. i 10,000 0 ' 7,000 0 3,000 0 1,500 0 • 2,000 0 500 0 ' 500 0 ' 700 0 £25,200 0 0