The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-02-24

BY the arrival at Auckland of the Cambria. we
have later intelligence from the Kingdom Of Fiji
We compile the following items from the FIJI
Times:
The Fiji Legislative Assembly have passed a bill
for the regulation OF the labOur traffic. Mr.. Woods.
in moving the second reading of the bill said. d" 1t
was one of vast Importance, be believed that no
measure passed this session would give more salts
faction to the world at large. The regulations
framed by the Ministry a short time ago were open
to abuse. and had been sEamefully abused. Pro-
vision had been now made to ensure the good con-
duct OF the native labour. by making the chiefs re-
sponsible. Wages for the native labour had been
fixed at GO a head per annum. which with other eX-
penses made the expense of FJian labour about
60 a head yearly"
The Government has issued a number of deben-
lures bearing interest at the rate Of 10 per cent per
annum. payable at the Treasury quarterly. The
notes. which are redeemable on the 10Th day OF De
cember, 1878, are issued for sums of five dollars
each.
The Government have lost no time in making ar
engagements for the construction of a Municipal
Council. The election of Aldermen took place on
January 2. Mr.. J. Morey was elected Mayor.
The FIRST Lodge of Freemasons in the POlynesian
Archipelago was opened in due form on December
%. The Lodge was opened by permission OF the
King. Brother II. 0. Patton was installed w. NJ.
In the course of a conversation between the
Chamber of Commerce deputation and the Minis
tiers on January 4. it was stated that the collection
of taxes from the white residents would probably
commence the following week.
The acceptance of the designations OF j. / Sagar,
ESQ. Minister for Native Affairs +. w. Hennings,
Esq. Minister for Finance and j. Smith, Esq
Minister for Trade and Commerce, has been gazett-
ed. Appointments The Hon. ). Z. Smith. to be
Minister of Finance. vice +. W. Hennings. resigned ;
the Hon. f. w. Hennings, to be Minister for Native
Affairs. vice J. T. Sugar, resigned j. NJ Haslett:
to be Commissioner of Stamp Duties Mr.. ID. Ii.
Smart. to be a Commissioner of AAidavits for the
Kingdom of Fiji Ratu Elaitia TOrca, to be Native
Chief Justice of the Kingdom Of Fiji Mr.. ID. ii.
Smart, to be Deputy-Registrar-
Mo nTlftaR Ii-nln " Of | nu1Ea on the nRrlSlOn
of the propagation of Parliament by King Cakabou
was. we should think. from the account given OF 1T
by a local journal, a very imposing one. The Fyi
Gazette furnishes a very graphic description IN
which it is related that Maafu's fine army compris-
ing 300 men marched along the beach to Parlia-
mpnt House " to the tap of a drum lmprovlSed
from d kerosene tin" Charley Maatu was dressed
in white drill trowsers. with a purple and green.
bound with gold velvet. Jacket, and a crimson
foraging cap. He wore a steel scahbarded sword
and white leather sword belt. The men were
dressed in white shirts and sulus of native grass
curiously wreathedsaround them.
\ grand fancy dress ball, given by the Hon.
Speaker and Ministry, came off on January 3rd.
About 20 gentlemen were present. and 30 ladies'.
only n very few Of whom were able to appear in
fancy costume. With the gentlemen, however, the
case was different. and consequently there was a
good variety of costume, from the gentlemen OF
the period. in Fijian evening dress, to the oddities
of the Currency. Advertising Medium. and the
prophetic Ratu Tappa or to the quaIntneSs OF the
EriZabethan period. or the whimsicalities of Dun
drparV. one OF those WnlCn attracted most general
attention was the Currency. showing upon a long
white robe all the variety of paper in circulation
upon the beach. from the Government debentures
down to their one shilling note and notes OF issue
from the various persons who float - shin plasters."
to the l. O. u, overdue p. N, and orders which
abound in the favored land. Mr.. Lyons kindly
acted as bandmaster on the piano especially hired
for the occasion. Your old friend Col. Hamilton
appeared as a gentleman Of the 18th century.
and it NAV here be added that amongst the lot
there were many gentlemen Of the 10Th century
costume. The Hon. Speaker. after sustaining his
part in the opening presentation to the Honorable,
the Premier. boldly took OF his coat, and went IN
for dancing with yigOr in his shirt-sleeves.
Intelligence was received at Levuka on Dec. 22d
of the murder of a foreign laborer on Nabeka
plantation. Taviuni, committed. it is supposed, by
solomon men. 1t appears that after work was
concluded. on the 22d Dec. the unfortunate victim
went ont to get some cOcoauut leaves. Not re-
turning that night, search was made for hlm on the
following morning, and on Monday morning all
hands were turned ont to look for him. Alter
some time the body was found in a hole In a creek
near MasOn's plantation. and had almost beeh
hacked to pieces with a knife. On the same day,
at North Taviuni. Mr.. Findlay was attacked with a
knife by one of his Tokolau men. The man cut
him severely, no doubt with the intention of muir
dering him, but was fortunately frustrated III his
object. .
Communicating has commenced upon the island
of Taviuni. aud in all cases the trees give promise
OF Il heavy crop. On one plantation QPeckham -
the quantity of cotton picked in one day was D
SOCfb. weight.-A complimentary ball 10 the Min
istry was a great success, and the banquet also
passed off with eclat.
The Gazette of the 23rd December says 1.-THE
return of II. +. NJ. schooner JEANNE DHncpq from
the Yassawas. having on board the remnant OF the
Meva murdeTers. completes so far the first scene III
the awful tragedy that has brought sorrow to so
many hearts.
1t is believed that these Solomon Island muir
derers of the Meva' We're kidnapped. In such a
case eau they be convicted OF murder! We say
No. And if this be proved they must be set free.
4 great deal has been said about hanging a few OF
these wretched savages, as a moral example to
others in the group. Be it so. But when We pro-
ceed'to this latter extremity. an unjust one. for the
purpose Of Offering an example to natives. we must
be also Just. and hang on the same gallOWs with
them any number of man-stealers that may be con-
victed of the offence. For 1t Is these men who pave
destroyed the labOur trade. 1t is these men to
! whom the planters may ascribe their dearth OF Ia
boar. 1t is to these men they may thank the I'm
perial Government for passing the law which Is
| projected. and which has been publicly mOOted IN
sydney. making it felony to even fit out a vessel
for the labour trade. That trade Is doomed"
Several gentlemen are at present IN town from
the Ba and Raki Raki districts. They report the
J Kai Colos insurgent along a lengthy line OF coast.
Last Saturday at Ba the coast natives reported that
the mOuntaineeTs were coming down. On sunday,
thew reported that the kaI COlos had been down
and burnt six lotu (Christian) towns: besides pun
dering the yam crops. They likewise sent sOros
down to some of the principal coast towns asking
them to assist in the murder OF the white settlers.
I \ body of about four hundred coast natives were
about to proceed to the plundeTed plantations tor
the purpose of recovering as much food as possible.
Il was expected that there would then be a collision
between the belligerent forces. The Raj Colos had
not in any way molested the settlers. although II Is
quite evident from their rising on the same day
that it was a premeditated and well organised
movement. We would suggest that the Govern
ment despatch a small force of white men as some
protection for our countrymen on those coasts.
-
The Christian Union finds = a new method OF
raising funds in the announcement Of the fair