§ MR. M'ARTHUR (Leicester)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any official account has been received of the recent destructive hurricane in Fiji; and, whether the local Government was able to render 1715 any effectual help to the poor people whose property was destroyed?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN) Denbighshire, E.)We have received three despatches on this subject from Mr. Thurston, the officer administering the government of Fiji, which show, unfortunately, that the late hurricane has been attended by very serious damage to property and some loss of life. Mr. Thurston has depatched Circulars to all the parts of the Colony enjoining the Chiefs to keep him well informed as to the condition of their districts, and has sent responsible officers to the districts most injured for the purpose of distributing relief among the Natives. I fear, however, that some time must elapse before the Islands recover from the effects of this visitation as the assistance tendered by the local Government must necessarily be limited.