D,—No. 22,

6

REPORTS ON THE FIJI ISLANDS.

Oil. The value of exports has been greatly reduced, by the small amount of oil made, compared with former years. Two years ago, these Islands suffered from a violent huricane, from the effects of which the cocoanut trees have not recovered. Intelligent natives state, the trees require at least three years to regain their vigour after these severe storms. Bcclic-de-Mer. The Beche de Mer fisheries have been extended during the past year, particularly upon the Mathuata coast, situated upon the north side of Vaivua Levu. The increase of value of export under this head has been large, and provided the exertions used to keep the petty chiefs from quarrelling are successful, will no doubt augment. The fish is sold here at per picul—l4o lbs.—and at an average price of 365. per picul. The market prices of this article fluctuate very much, being sometimes as high as 40s. per picul and as low as 245. during consecutive months. It is shipped to Sydney, and thence to China. Wool. This article, as an export, is becoming less every year. Sheep-farming has hitherto resulted in disappointment to its promoters, the flocks being carried off by some disease for which the owners are unable to account. Notwithstanding the want of success hitherto attending this pursuit, large tracts of land have lately been bought by some sheep-farmers from New Zealand, who intend importing their flocks next May. The following return will show the increase of a small flock of ewes, the increasing weight of fleece, and the gross weight of the clip during three years : —

Tortoise Shell. Tortoise shell is plentiful. The amount exported might be increased threefold if the Fijians were at all industrious. The value of this article has fallen greatly. A few years siuce it was worth 20s. per lb., now it brings in the Colonial markets 9s. Pigs, Timber, Fruit, Sfc. Very little has been exported under this head, owing to the influx of settlers during the year past. Everything the Native producer could raise in the way of food, either animal or vegetable, has scarcely sufficed to meet their requirements. For the same reason no timber has been exported, the whole being used here for the numerous additions and improvements to the houses of the settlers. Some fruit has been exported, also maizethe latter grows very finely, and is consumed chiefly by the servants and labourers on the various plantations. The coming year will no doubt see these Islands advance steadily in the path of prosperity. Large sums of money have lately been invested by men possessing the means to enter extensively into agricultural pursuits. A company is in the course of formation for the purpose of cultivating sugar in the Island of Taviuni, the soil of which is peculiar in richness and fertility. From the high opinion competent judges entertain of the sugar-cane now grown by the Natives, no doubt can be entertained of the success that will attend the undertaking. Agriculture. Under this head it is satisfactory to report some improvement. In cotton more care is now taken in the selection of seed, in the preparation of the ground, and cultivating the plant. The best season for planting cotton is from September to January. The months of July and August are generally dry, enabling the planter to uproot and burn off the weeds upon his land, and to prepare it for the Tenia! rains of September and October. In dry months the sun is likely to strike through the soil and so injure the roots of the young plants, thus producing the disease known as " shore skin." This retards the growth of the tree. If heavy rains fall soon after planting, the seed is very liable to rot in the ground • bo in many cases, owing to unpropitious weather, infinite trouble must be endured before the planter can obtain a stand of cotton. The plant appears about four days after sowing, and under favourable circumstances grows rapidly. Sea Island cotton is generally planted in rows 6 feet by 6 feet, but some planters are drilling, as in America, the rows being 5 feet and the plants 30 inches apart. This variety grows much faster and arrives at maturity sooner than any other. I have observed the first blossoms upon a tree one month after planting ; at the end of the second month the blossoms fell and the bolls appeared ; at the end of the third month the bolls reached maturity, and the cotton was ready for gathering. The most experienced growers estimate each healthy freewill produce annually five pounds weight of seed cotton. There are three crops of this variety during the year ; the first in January or February, the second in May or June, the third in September or October. The vicissitudes of the seasons, however, will forward or retard the ripening of the crop by a month. In ginning, this cotton loses two-thirds of its gross weight; 300 lbs. of seed cotton producing 100 lbs. of clean. Assuming that each tree would produce three pounds of seed cotton—one pound of clean fibre—one shilling, and that an acre of land planted 6 feet by 6 feet, carries 1,031 trees, the gross value annually per acre would be £51 lis.

Year. Number of Sheep. Station. Weight of Fleece. Weight of Clip. 1863 1864 1865 440 559 530 Nanau Island Viti Levu lbs. 2,625 2,826 3,400 lbs. 1,150 1,580 1,800