LATER FIJIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 477, 28 December 1875, Page 4

LATER FIJIAN NEWS.

By the arrival yesterday from Levnka of the s.s. Llewellyn we (Cross) have files of papers to the 10th instant, from which we take the following : The natives in Kandavu so interpret the Governor's Ordinance about their paying their taxes in produce that they hesitate to Bell now at all to Europeans. Mr Lepine, who has been long associated with the Argus, is, we are pleased to say, slowly recovering. Mr Lepine has been very assiduously engaged of late, and to this overwork must be ascribed his illness. Low fever was.the cause of his indisposition, but he has improved. We learn (says the Times), from a most reliable source, that the French will annex the New Hebrides, and that a man-of-war would leave Noumea for that purpose two days after the Alarm left for Levuka. This is news indeed, and shows with what seorecy, ability, and wisdom this has been effected. It will be interesting to watch the politics displayed by each country's Government, and see which bids best to outstrip the other in their several development. Fiji has the start, let us hope she will hold it. The Fiji Banking and Commercial Company have determined to erect a very handsome building in Totaga square, next Houng Lee's store, Levuka, where to carry on their commercial negotiations. The bank will be large, roomy, and commodious ; every accommodation will be accorded to all officers of the institution. The erection of these premises will cost £2600 and upwards. Totaga square will soon become the Wall street of Levuka. The Royal Engineers have been very active since their arrival in Fiji. A large amount of survey work has been done, and a sea wall along the beach is about to be erected by them. They are also making preparations for burning lime at Vagadace. Coral will be used for the purpose. The Times looks philosophically upon the proposal to change the capital of the colony from Levuka to Suva. It thinks, whether the capital is changed or not, for years Fiji, generally throughout the group will recognise, from commercial relations alone, Levuka as the capital. Recently two Fijians were tried at the Supreme Court for the murder of two natives. They stated at their trial that the murdered men caught the measles, and the prisoners killed them to prevent them dying of the measles. The prisoners were at once acquitted. H.M.S. Nymphe which arrived in port on Saturday last, is to succeed H.M.S. Parracouta, the latter ship being under orders for a cruise to the Line Islands. The Nymphe is a very smart looking barque-rigged steamship, of the type of our old friends the Blanche and Dido. Amongst the officers art. some familiar faces, who were formerly in the first-named very popular ship. Mr J. S. Lowe, who for the last twelve or thirteen months held the position of editor of the Fiji Times, is compelled, in consequence of family affairs, to proceed to England, The editorial chair has been resumed by Mr P. S. Solomon, who occupied it foi some tirre before Mr Lowe's arrival in Fiji, On Sunday last afire broke out in premises belonging to a Mr Jones, situated on the southern side of Totoga Creek. The house, rather of rickety character, was somewhat damaged before the flames were exringuiphed, but otherwise no great injury ensued.

Typhoid fever is prevalent at Levuka and surrounding districts. Mr Budd, a clerk in the Post Office, got his leg broken recently in a friendly wrestling match, just as he was to be despatched in charge of a return labour vessel. A correspondent of one of the Fiji papers proposes that 150 acres of land be given to an adult male, 75 acres to an adult female, and 25 acres to each minor in a family, to induce immigration to Fiji. With regard to the punishment of natives here there have been many conflicting opinions. Solitary confinement has proved to be worse than a farce, and this for some time has been the principal method of punishing the Fijians summarily. A native sentenced to be locked up for two or three days regards this as a triumph of luxurj. He at once anticipates the pleasure of the siesta. His food is brought to him, and he eats and sleeps away his time in halcyon bliss. Hard labor perhaps is wholesome, as it introduces the divine principle of work. But to get natives to work hard is an impossibility, and too frequently the sentence is but a mockery and delusion. And thus it is that hitherto punishment of natives has been a myth. In very many cases we believe that no punishment will be found so salutary to the dusky sons of born idleness, as that of a smart couple of dozen, well laid on with a good cutting cat-'o-nine tails. Recently this has been positively forced upon the authorities. An incorrigible named Dau, who had been incarcerated for thieving, proved himself to be a veritable Jack Shepperd. Twice he broke out oE gaol in a most determined manner, and the last time was captured with great difficulty, violently assaulting the apprehending constable, trying to club him, and seriously injuring him. Upon the case being reported to the Governor, his Excellency ordered the to receive thirty lashes, and on Friday last, in the afternoon, he was brought out to receive his punishment. Before he was brought out all the prisoners in the gaol were paraded, and ranged in front of the place of punishment. The flagellator was a stalwart half-cast named Williams, He and the prisoner, of course, were the centre of observation. It was curious to observe the strange glances of the natives, as they witnessed the ceremony of fastening their fellow countryman up, no less so the peculiar expression of the culprit, as he surveyed the preparations for his ghastly correction, and passively submitted himself to be tied up, or contemplated by the grim congregation that surrounded him. The flagelator's instrument of torture was a regular " cat." Its handle was 2ft long, with nine lashes of about 2£ft long each, of stout hard whipcord, each end knotted in some half dozen places. At a signal he commenced operations, delivering each stroke in about second intervals, the speed of which gradually increased after the 9th, until sixteen had been delivered. Every stroke left its wale, and each seemed to inflict fresh torture. At the first stroke the culprit gave a low cry, muttering something in Fijian; at the second it intensified into a howl, his head fell on one side then on the other, he drew his legs up and stood on tiptoes, his contortions palpably bespoke the amount of suffering he endured. At about the 9th or 10th stroke the wretched prisoner, weaker, threw his head over his left shoulder, and appeared as though his whole body was suspended by his wrists, his lower limbs seeming to have given way. At the 16 th stroke, at a signal from the doctor, the punishment ceased, and the man was taken down e/idently insensible. He was carried in the gaol, and there by means of cold water, he was quickly resuscitated. We believe he received his second instalment on Tuesday morning, and are quite certain he will be a good boy in future. The moral effect of this cannot be overestimated. It is said to have been much talked of amongst the Fijians, and will doubtless, hereafter, be not only a deterrent from crime, but lead to cheerful obedience as well on the part of servants as of Fijians gen< rally.