Late Islands News

Sydney, Nov. 18.

FIJI reports £41,662 Governmental surplus for the year, making an accumulated surplus of £552,787. Import duties have been reduced on beer, meat, fish, sharps, and pollard. Exports for the year were £350,000, and imports £208,000. The Fiji £ is still devaluated, being 12% per cent, under sterling—probably the most remarkable exchange position in the world.

Several diamond drills have arrived on the Tavua goldfield, Fiji, and the vital question of whether the gold “lives at depth” should soon be answered.

If it does, this is a very rich goldfield; if it does not, it still is a good goldfield, but every ounce of gold will have to be taken out of the upper strata to justify the fancy prices that have been paid for Fiji goldmine shares.

Warm praise of Sir Hubert Murray’s work in Papua, and of the success of his native policy, has been voiced in various directions lately. This may be interpreted as a warning to the Commonwealth Government, and a protest against an irresponsible political appointment to the Lieutenant-Governor ship of Papua, of which there have been persistent rumours.

Messrs. Crosby, a Melbourne firm, have bought steamers Nauru Chief, 2934 tons (formerly in Nauru phosphate trade), and Tower Abbey, 5328 tons, and will run a cargo service from Australia to Philip pines and Hongkong.

President of U.S.A., on November 15, signed decree giving independence to Philippines, and con stituting the Philippines Commonwealth.