The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-05-27

Gllustrated) has a pretty correct traEelers de-
scription of 81 Honolulu and the Sandwich Islands"
accompanied however. with a villanous caricaiure
which purports to be "A view of the city.
Prom the Fits.
Through the politeness of Mr.. Naylor. Purser of
the Cty Of Melbourne, we have received files of
the Fiji Times to May Is. We compile a summary
of the intelligence.
The foreign community were considerably elated
over the prospect OF regular steam communication
with the rest of the world, and every preparation
was made at Levuka for the arrival of the pioneer
steamer. Lights were provided. and the harbor
resurveyed. a Committee of Public Works was
organized, and a competent surveyor employed TO
lay out a route for the steamer through the group
OH her way to these islands.
The handsome sum Of GOO was collected and
sent forward in aid of the Prussian distressed and
wounded.
A fearful hurricane swept over the islands in
the latter part of March doing considerable damage
to plantations and coasting vessels. 1t was feared
also that some large vessel had been wrecked, as
various pieces evidently belonging to some vessel,
and the stump of a mast Of American pine, had been
picked up. From portions of a head-board found,
it would appear that the vessels name was the
K%entuccy. A cabin door was also found, with the
makers mark on it" Newhaven-DM & Co."
On Easter Sunday Il new church was opened at
Levuka, for Church of England worshippers.
The charter granted by Thakombau to the in
habitants Of Levuka had not been acted on, and
the Times complains of the lack of energy of the
people.
The Fiji Theological Institute, at Richmond.
Kantavu, under the auspices OF the Wesleyan Mis-
sion. appears to be in a aourishing condition, there
bo,;nr b,an Gftu-ono ofudantq rncnntlu avapinnd
in various branches of study.
a theatre has been opened and was drawing
good houses at Livuka.
The question of vital Importance to the Fits
now" says the Times, 4" is labor. Every month
brings men to our islands who are determined to
try and wrest an honest living, if not II competence
. from the soil. and Of course TO do this, labor is
required. But naturally with an Increase Of plant
ers the labor market becomes more brisk, and the
question is being asked-Where are we 10 obtain
labor? Now, this is Il very serious matter. affect
ing as it does not only the present condition but
also the future prosperity OF Fiji"
The supply heretofore obtained from the New
Hebrides and other groups appears to be giving
out. and it is now proposed to look for another
market from which TO procure laborers.
The following, from the paper Of the 18th inst,
will give u pretty clear idea Of the state Of affairs
in FIJI:
line SuDltCb Oh IL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MlXeU
Courts for the settlement Of matters in dispute be-
tween natives and Europeans. az mooted at a meet
ing Of planters held recently at Wairiki. a report
Of the proceedings of which we published in our
last issue, is worthy Of consideration. No one can
deny the existing necessity of some court Of appeal
so that disputes might be fairly and amicably adj
iusted. Such disputes are in the nature of things
of too frequent occurrence, and only tend TO cause
feelings of distrnst and animosity TO arise aud,
unless some plan can be agreed upon for their set-
Element might lead to serious misunderstanding
between the two races. Our position at present is
a very peculiar one, Tor we are III TIE situation Of
: aliens in "a country whose people have hardly
l merged from heathendOm. are comparatively ignO-
rant OF any mode Of government other than des-
4 potic. and to whom the introduction Of any system
of law requiring taxation to uphold it, must be
e almost incomprehensible. Again. our relations
r with them as regarding commerce. are only in
their infancy and as the benefit 10 be reaped from
our presence amongst them is but dimly impressed
D upon their minds, and mu { be, until we teach
5 them that other things. besides yarns and tappa.
n are. if not absolutely necessary. at any rate very
o desirable. This knowledge is growing In their
Y minds. and there is an evident desire on their part
i TO do what is right as between man and man. and
y some of the chiefs have evinced a wish TO adopt
some of the white mans forms of government. So
> we have the Lau Confederation. which in this re-
e spect may be considered the leading native gov
2 eminent in FIJI aud also systems OF police. and
e rules for the gOvernance Of the people. Bnt these
e apply mostly to the natives themselves. The white
e man has shown an aversion To submit 10 them I;
a and they, on the other hand, have shown us the re-
8 spect which is generally accorded as the due ,Oi
G superiors, and of people who on account Of supe-
y riority are misunderstood. But this feeling has
: not prevented the rise and growth OF disputes
p which require calc'. dispassionate. and fair settle
4 ment. such as could only be obtained from an in-
partial court. Now. the formation Of Mixed Courts
: would be wise. The white man could claim Justice
Z from the native and vice versa and the prejudices
q of race and of education would be softened down
by the union of both races with the one object in
view OF enforcing law aud order. The greatest
difficulty in the way that we can think Of is the
. expense, and how it is to be met"
b I'VE published in our last issue a letter from
Progress, calling attention TO necessary sanitary
d arrangements for Levuka. Perfectly correct in bis
views. the writer was. however. only reiteratine
what has been repeated over and over again upor
the subject. alas. in vain. The subject, nevertbe
less. one Of vast Importance To US all. and non,
the less so, because IL is "A topic which has otter
been dwelt upon. IL is clear too that IL we wisl
to attain any practical result. il must be by con
IN tinual agitation. The history Of the movement 81
far teaches us that the principal obstacle In thu
way of our possessing a municipal government, O
q Improvement committee, OF by whatever name w
to may choose TO call it. is the blind opposition Of
ke few. There Is very little to it cOmparativel!
speaking. but we have no law 70 suppress. or 4
compel what opposition there Is TO submit TO regu
" lations for the public good. and any COMMITTEE
p placed in the position our Improvement COmmitte
a is in. would always feel a delicacy in urging claim
against defaulting ratepayers. 1t may be said thn
vi they have no power TO do so. and we grant 1t bu
ne TO those who urge this We would say that the con
mittee has a moral power il il chooses TO exeTcis
it. which they would not care TO oppose. And
is a question whether the few should not yield 1
re- matters affecting the public good, where the welfar
Of the many is concerned"