An Australian envoy, Mr. J.C. Ward, has been on a mission to India to secure insect-eating birds for the Fiji Islands. Fiji faced pest issues on sugarcane and coconut plantations after importing mongoose to control rats, which also led to the extinction of native birds. Previous attempts to import fruit-eating Australian birds failed. Ward has successfully acquired and shipped several species of insectivorous birds from Calcutta and Madras to Fiji, with further consignments expected.