84 Transactions.—Moiscellaneous. 
difficult matter to determine. In many instances the islands surrounding 
any particular spot are healthy, whilst the spot itself is the abode of fever 
and ague; indeed it is oftentimes found that three sides of an island are 
healthy, while the fourth is totally the reverse. 
The prevailing winds have much to do with the subject, and likewise the 
neighbourhood of the Australian continent. Large deposits of vegetable 
matter in a state of decomposition will also be found to greatly influence the 
healthy condition of the atmosphere. For these reasons the windward side 
of any island is more healthy than the leeward, in consequence of receiving 
the steady current of the south-east trade winds. 
In the report of the Commissioners—Commodore Goodenough and Mr. 
Layard—concerning the cession of Fiji, there is a paper containing some 
observations by Dr. Messer upon the health of the islands. That gentleman 
states that the Fijian Archipelago is singularly free ** not only from tropical 
diseases, but also from most of those diseases which in England and other 
countries yearly cause a large amount of sickness." This is saying a great 
deal for future white residence in that group. It would be of the utmost 
advantage if our medical officers, generally, in the Pacific would report 
upon the health of the islands, as the most healthy are the most valuable 
for European residence. The climate of an unhealthy island will greatly 
retard the work of colonization. Our information on the subject is at pre- 
sent very vague, but I think I am fully entitled to say that the Pacific 
Islands are more healthy, and more suitable for European residence than 
the West Indies or British Guiana. 
Language and Education. 
The education of the islanders has been principally confined to religious 
teaching. Nothing else could have been expected, nor anything better 
imparted. Whilst, however, perfectly agreeing with what has already been 
done, I think that it will be found absolutely necessary to pay more atten- 
tion to secular and industrial education, especially in those islands which 
have been christianized. The Melanesian Mission in Norfolk Island, and 
the Wesleyan training schools in Tonga and Fiji, combine the three ;—an 
extension of this plan is alone required. I am quite certain that the mis- 
sionaries will cordially assist in any matter connected with the welfare of 
the natives. Both secular education and industrial habits must be incul- 
cated, and the more compulsory the system the better it will be for the 
natives. There should not be any hesitation in the course to be pursued. 
The lazy habits of past generations have to be rooted out, and compulsory 
means are the most suitable for the work. Boys and girls should be com- 
pelled to attend the schools, and the Fijian Government should consider the 
advisability of establishing such schools in every village. Public nurseries 
