The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-02-15
Cost of Living in Fiji.

\ LeVuka correspondent Of the Sydney Morn
ing Herald writes -
At times we poor Levukans are brought almost
to starvation point, not from lack Of means, but
from lack Of meat. We are often several days
and even latterly for five days at a stretch
without either beef, mutton, or pork. Such as
could manage TO get a fowl or two or some fish
from the natives now and then were compare
lively well of, but for most of US there were no
such comforts TO be bad-nothing but salted.
timed, or ported meats. Even yains are now
scarcely 10 be had, the demand having been
greatly in excess Of the supply. Fresh meat,
when the butcher can favor us with any, Is Is
per pound. Bread. Is for what is called a Alb
loaf, but what seldom weighs in reality more
than BIB. Potatoes, when they are to be had,
lbs per cWt. yams varying IN price, but, on an
average, much the same as the potatoes. The
natives sometimes hawk fowls, each little bird
being generally saleable at 2s. Fish, when it
can be got, Is cheaper enough for one meal for
a large family-excellent fish, tOO-cin be got
for Is. a couple of small baskets Of sweet po-
tatOes or other edible roots, weighing together
about lib OF Slb. are also at times brought to the
door for Is. House-room is an additional diff
Guilty. and one Of a most serious character. Peo-
pie of the highest respectability-delicate ladies
among then-are obliged to pack themselves up
in the merest novels Of one or perhaps two rooms.
Carpenters are very important personages here
Just now. Plenty of timber has arrived, but the
men to make houses out Of il are hard to get.
Recently carpenters were advertised for at l6s a
day good money (Which means payment in
silver or gold coin), and were not to be had.
Few houses are to be rented at any price, and
such as there are fetch high rates. The cost of
living here. taking it as a whole, is, I should I'M
agine, about twice what it is in Sydney when
things are pretty reasonable. Ii cannot be too
often or too strongly impressed upon people in
the Colonies that there is here no opening what
ever for men without capital who are not skilled
in Eona handioraft NUbirb - nSaful in a non oo..
try. One would think this had been done often
enough alIeIdy, but | have been panied to see
among recent arrivals persons who have neither
money nor mechanical skill, and who appear al
ready at their wits end for the means Vt keeping
body and soul together.
a letter, dated Levuka, October 22d, says
There is not an inch of land in Fiji but is
owned by somebody. The act of the chiefs, in
recognizing and swearing allegiance to Cakobau
as King OF Fiji, does not deprive them of their
territory. Consequently their land does not be-
come Crown land without n conveyance to the
Crown by deed. OF such deeds there is not one
in existence. The Crown cannot sell you an inch
of land, but you purchase it from the chiefs, and
the Government charge Is per acre for the ratif-
cation OF the sale, and your protection on the
property. This protection they are unable to
give, as the Government are subserylent to the
ia YES. They dare not make or pass IA law that
iT any way affects the natives without first sub
uniting it to the Privy Council, which is COM
posed Of the chiefs. If the chiefs disapproye of
the measure, it is quietly shelved. Even the
laws the Government do make they dare not put
into execution against the natives residing out of
Ovalau, who do just as they please-more so
than they used to do, as their chiefs have lost a
good deal OF their power over them. Should any
of the outlying settlers be molested or ill-treated,
the Government dare not take active measures to
punish the offenders, or prevent them from re-
peating the abuse. The matter is referred to the
Minister of Native Affairs, and then the order is,
mGiud "a. e., wait Il bit) but there is no maEud
for a white man. For instance. if you become
obnoxious to the Government, all n policeman
has to do is to summon you to the Court, and
you are fined 40s for obstructIng him in the exc
cutiOn of his duty.
The greatest confusion prevails about TIE
money, as nearly all the business people are their
own bankers and issue their own notes of from
Cd to 81 each, which are termed : beach cur
rency." The higher denominations are used by
large firms, and are generally redeemed when
presented, but the smaller ones are issued princi-
pally by hotel-keepers, and when presented for
payment, should you not want IA 'nobbler +" at
the same time, you get IN exchange Government
notes, which are at from 20 TO 50 per cent. dis
count. L enclose a specimen of them to show
your friends the sort of money they may expect
TO receive for their good gold if they come to
FIJI, as it Is declared n legal tender, and if you
do not take 1T you must go without.
If some foreign nation, such as England or the
United States, does not take possession of Fiji
and form a prOtectorate over it, the present Gov
eminent must collapse, and then we shall be
worse off than ever, as the natives are well armed
and drilled, having learned too much from our
paternal Government.
Everything is very dear here. Bread is at Is
the 24lb. loaf; fresh beef and mutton at Is per
h.; butter, at 2s per ID. and everything else in
proportion. Carpenters are getting los per day
of eight hours, and have plenty of work at pres
ent. a good blacksmith would do well here. a
great drawback here is the want of a good school.
There is only one man keeping a sort of school,
and his charge is As per scholar per week, which
is absurd.