✨ Fiji Islands Trade Report
Auckland Provincial Government Gazette,
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.
VOL. XVII.] SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1868. [No. 28.]
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.
Superintendent’s Office,
Auckland, 26th March, 1868.
THE following Report, upon the Navigation, Trade, and present condition of the Fiji Islands, for the year 1867, has been received, and is published for general information.
J. WILLIAMSON,
Superintendent.
REPORT UPON THE NAVIGATION, TRADE, AND PRESENT CONDITION OF THE FIJI ISLANDS.
THERE has been a slight decrease in the aggregate tonnage of shipping visiting the ports of Levuka and Rewa, during the past year.
This can be partly accounted for by the withdrawal of one or two ships from the trade, and to their being replaced by vessels of less capacity, but better adapted to insular navigation.
The trade of this group is at present carried on by British vessels, sailing from ports in the adjoining colonies.
The following statement shows the number of “ships” and “gross” tonnage entered, compared with last year:—
| 1866. | 1867. | |
|---|---|---|
| British ships entered | 27 | 24 |
| Foreign “ | 3 | 1 |
| Gross tonnage | 4,024 | 3,797 |
During the past year three small vessels have been built, measuring respectively 30, 40, 45 tons.
The number of small craft, belonging chiefly to British residents, occupied in island trade, amount at the present time to 18, measuring in the aggregate about 350 tons.
As the cultivation of cotton and other products, now engaging the attention of the settlers, progresses, it will be necessary to build or purchase other small vessels, for the purpose of collecting the various articles from outlying districts, where it would not be safe or expedient for a large ship to proceed.
There is a prospect of an enterprising Sydney firm despatching a ship direct from this port to London or Liverpool, during the coming year. Not having a recognised Government at Fiji, there are no port charges, dues, or imposts of any nature.
The navigation of the group is open with safety from April until December, during which time the South-east trade winds prevail. From January until April the winds are variable, frequently blowing with great violence from the North and North-west, attended with heavy rains.
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Auckland Provincial Gazette 1868, No 23
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🌏 Report on Fiji Islands Navigation and Trade
🌏 External Affairs & Territories26 March 1868
Navigation, Trade, Fiji Islands, Shipping Tonnage, Colonial Trade
- J. Williamson, Superintendent