1886: Levuka beachfront buildings: the Gold Coast of early Fiji

Levuka ceased to act a Fiji capital from 1882
 Four years later, still a lively town: Some fine commodious stores of weathorboard and iron have, however, been constructed, notably those of  the leading firms in Levuka.

•  Messrs, W. Hennings and Co.,

•  G. Morgan and Co.,
•  H. Cave and Co.,
•  Hoerder and Co,
•  Sadingham and Co.,
•  Brodzrak and Co.,
•  Bentley and Co., and
•  Hedemann and Co., (??)

Three good hotels: There are also three fair hotels, viz., the

•  Polynesian;
•  Planters’ Club; and
•  Royal.

Trades and shops: Several retail stores, with the usual complement of tradespeople, such a  butchers, bakers, chemist, watchmaker, sailmaker, blacksmith, bootmakers, etc.
Banks: The Bank Of New Zealand, and Union Bank of Australia both have branches hore, the former conducting its business in quite a protential building.
 Three churches: There are three churches,

•  Church of England,
•  Roman Catholic, and
•  Wesleyan;

A public school; and two newspapers, the Fiji Times and the Polynesian Gazette, the office of the former being one of the handsomest and most prominent buildings in the town.
 The Mechanics’ Institute ia a large and Imposing structure, with the town clock  its steeple; in the hall, …. amateur theatricals, and assembly balls are held. There is a Free-masons’ and Oddfellows’ Hall, and a  (??? Temple Hall).
 The Police court is a good mile out of the town, in a portion of the building at Narova formerly occupied as the vice-regal residence, the remaining portion being in charge of a caretaker except during occasional rare visita of His Excellency. This isolated position of the Court is a great (burden?) of inconvenience to the townspeople, especially as the Supreme Court is periodically held at the … place. The police station and gaol are, howovor, centrally situated. The municipal affairs are prosided over by a Town Board,’ and the streets are kept well lighted.
 The Mercury Supplement, (Hobart, Tasmania)  Saturday 13 February, 1886.  This item appears written by a Levuka resident in early 1886, or late 1885.  It encourages tourism to Levuka, as a rest from an overheated Australia.  Author uses the name “Tasmanian”. Possibly Frederick Langham   Perhaps ship-owner and trader with a long term trading relationship with Levuka and Suva, for at least five years – since 1880.