Year: 1871

Total .t4O, $50
The commander of the surveying cutter Midnight,
which had been dispatched to make a survey Of the
Nanuka Passage, returned to Levuka the 10Th Of


May and made the following report to the chairman


of the public works committee:


~ returned to Levuka this morning, having par


TALLY carried out ;he instructions of your commit


tee, to await the arrival of the mail steamer and con


duct her through Nanuka passage, route to the
Sandwich Islands. We arrived at the island of Ka-


mia on the 9th lust, and being without any reliable
information respecting Nauuka Island and its ap-


proaches, l offered sufficient inducement to the
natives to obtain the services OF volunteer to pilot


US through the reefs of Nanuka. sent one Of my
assistants and halfcaste pilot upon this service;
they returned after several hours having failed In
their attempts the natives reporting the impossible


ity of crossing the reef in anything but canoes and
then only at great risk Having but days left
do all that required and fearing further delay
in attempting the passage of Nanuka reef which
would prevent my making a reconnaissance Of the
strait, we crossed Luacaa reef through entrance
not marked on the chart, and anchored of the
southeast extreme end of the island where we land
ed an assistant surveyor, with natives and equip
ments and erected temporary light and beacon.
We devoted three days in making general examin-
alton of Nanuka Strait, the Island and Reef and as
far as we were able to ascertain, the dangerous
rock marked on the chart does exist Also, that
Nanuka consists OF two islets, quarter of mile
apart, lying in a north and south direction. The
southern slet is the largest and contains an OF
about three acres, with an elevation above high
mark of about twelve feet II is thckly covered
with vegetation but has no water and is placed out
,f hv ba ch. RI At taasf
miles to the northeast landing can always be OBJ.
tanned n southeast weather. and the situation is ad
mirably adapted for permanent lighthouse. Ihnve
not discovered any new dangers in Nanuka Strait,
but the whole place requires thorough and com
plete survey should the mail service be Subsidized
as not single island reef appears to be laid down
correctly the charts now in general use"


Levuka, the commercial capital and principal ship
ping port of the group, is located on the eastern
side of ovalu, lofty island with steeple-shaped
peaks situated on the eastern side Of Vita Levu,
which is about seven miles from the mainland and
ten or twelve from Bau. Levuka contains perma-
nent foreign population Of over 50o it has fine
harbor with good holding ground and Is easy Of ac-
cess In the town there several large stores and
hotels and the principal street is upwards of three
quarters of mile n length. It attained its present
prominence on account of its central position and
the uuvarying kindness shown by its leading man,
Tui-Levuka, to the white settlers. This probably
accounts for such an unsuitable spot being selected
as the site for town 1t is incapable OF extension,
either at the sides the back, couple Of hund-
red yards from the beach high volcanic mountain
ranges rise abruptly, and at the sides the town Is
Iemmed in By two immense spurs Of rock Among
the most prominent public buildings are the Wes-
leyan and Roman Catholic Churches, the Literary
Institute. and the British Consulate Some Of the
traders have villa residences on the terraces OF bills
which form the background, and as seen from the
harbor, have a very picturesque appearance.


The first meeting Of FBian Parliament, in Janu-
ary last was a decided success. Many useful laws
were passed most OF them relating exclusively to
KAT Wis (natives) the most important being strict
liouor law, prohibiting the use Of wines, beer and
spir Is, and even forbiddng trade in such Afier
these things had been considered and agreed to,
Tai Bau invited all the planters to dine with him,
when the laws were laid before them for their con-
sideratiou and approval.


suva is without doubt the finest barbOr In the
and is situated on the south coast Of tie large
Island of Viii Il promises to become the port Of
,al for the mail steamers between Sydney aud Hcn-
olulu, and it will probably be at this point that the
New Zealand boats will effect Junction with the
main line to San francisco. The harbor is about
i've miles north and south, by four east and west;
he entrance is wide aud clearly defined By the
urf on the reefs that vessels can enter 1t at
III times aud in all weathers. The only dangerous
pot is Immediately behind the reef on the east Of
n entrance aud this can always be avoided By YES
els entering in keeping well in the channel until
bout half mile past the surf on the reef when