The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-07-17
Fiji.


I I've have news from Fiji TO the 24h Of May. via
Auckland. Measles continued their ravages. and
tits considered that a fourth Of the population will
fail victims, This means between $4,000 and 4o.-
900 people-Aa terrible proportion, yet quite posi-.
BILE when we think OF the ravages OF the " black
death 4" in oidcn days In England, when its people
were as little prepared 10 cope with the calamity
az the FUIans are with measles. Their habits Of
life and their dwellings are both united 10 save
them from the consequences OF The disease. All
the best OF the old chiefs are going. and the poiit
\ ical effect will be great. The arrival Of slr Arthur
Gordon is anxiously expected. The first point 10
be settled is the location of ihe capitol Of the
COLONY. II Ia very unlikely that Levuks will oon-
tlnue 10 occupy that position. ~ Il has no back
country and no room for n good town. NandI
Hay, Suva, Saw Saw, and Kandavu are spoken
of, and quite likely NandI may get the palm. ne II
has a Hne dry climate and abundance Of open
country. with a splendid harbor. IL Ia niiuated ai
the northwest corner OF Viii Lew. The decision
Of this question IL looked for snxIonsIy. Sugar
continues 10 form the hope Of the settlers. and The
sooner they can get titles 10 their land the sooner
they will be able 10 begin operations. The titles
will not be forthcoming until the lend IL surveyed,
and a good deal Of preliminary work done. Sir
Arthur II probably not aware Of the need OF his
presence on these accounts, or, II ~, 10 regarding
them rather coolly, and laying the foundation for
much discontent. The retinue with which he h 20
srrive--two aldes-de-camp. aud two secrsissics--
IL also talked Of az a rather lofty beginning for q
small Colony, and the settlers seem scarcely 10
believe that the cost is 10 be horne on their own
small revenue. II II be 70, the virtues Of the
system which Lord carnarvon styled a Crown
Colony Of the severest type, will not prove very
apparent or attractive, even 10 those who groaned
most deeply under tbe at,rnpi at a native Eoyern-
mept, Which hey 30 Severely denounced. 1hss
mortality among European children In spoken Of
as great In Levuka. The manager u The FiJlap
Banking and Commercial, Company, Mr.. Horton,
has been suffering from aysentery. and 10 on hs
way 10 Auckland TO recruit. The distillation Of
rum has been begun, and the article produced h
said to be equal to Jamaica. The maize crops are
promising. and in Leyuka itseii Che measles had
abated. The absence Of the natives,
who avoid the town, has produced almost a famine,
so far as native products are concerned. but this
will pass away when the measles have run their
course. On the Rewa river its ravsges were fear.
full. Infants and parents down together, without
medical aid, proper care, proper fsod, or proper
shelter. A private letter describes Il az q terrible
which only those who witness ID can fully
appreciate. The Chinese firm OF HOung Lee a Co.
are importing a fast steamboat TO coast among the
islands, and whale Gsbing has been Introduced by
Rich, who takes command Of the expedi-
himself These are the chief items OF news
from FIJI, and evidently we shall have nothing
definite or satisfactory on any point until Sir
Arthur Gordon, bis aides-de-camp and his private
secretaries, put In an appearance among those
whose interests are being 20 seriously affected by
The present delay.