The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-07-01
From In Ellis.

in receipt of Giles of the Times, and two FIRST num-
bers of a new journal called the Gazette. The
news is interesting and important. The King,
Thakombau. has made a coup d'etdt. in humble
imitation of sovereigns in more civilized lands,
and established a regular constitutional form of
government. with a list of ministers and an
Executive Council. To understand rightly what
has led Ia this move on the part of His Fijian
Majesty. it may be well here to give a little history
OF events.
Ia 1867, the foreign residents of the islands,
feeling the insecurity of their position in a country
without laws. or guaranty for life and property
Other llan the mere word of the chief, petitioned
Thakolnbau 10 give them a written charter. or per-
mission to govern themselves, subject to the native
authorities in all matters in which natives were
concerned. This document. after due deliberation
among the foreigners OF Levuka. the principal
white settlement. was drawn up aud submitted to
the King. by whom it was accepted and signed.
But now came the business of putting the Con
siltutlon " as 1t was called into operation. The
foreigners disagreed among themselves at the
numerous meetings held to discuss measures. They
were Jealous of one another, and dreaded confer
ring power to execute laws that might be enacted.
lhey dared not even appoint constables from
among themselves, for fear. as was declared. that
they would tyrannize over their neighbors. Mean
time foreigners were fast coming into the islands
and engaging in agriculture, merchandise and
commerce, a line of steamers was about being
established across the Pacific. making the Fills a
port OF cali, and the necessity was every day
growing more apparent and urgent for a regularly
established government. Both England and the
United States had been appealed to in turn, to
either annex the group or to establish a protecto-
rate over them. and both had declined. The
foreign residents, by their petty disagreements, re-
peated failures and want of cooperation. had
shown themselves unable to form a government,
and at last. on the 5h of June, the King very
properly took the initiative himself, and calling
the foreign residents together at Levuka. an
nounced by Royal Commission, that I'VE, by our
especial grace, by virtue of our own Authority,
had constituted and appointed. as follows:
FTst-Sydney Charles Burt, Esq, a member of our Exc
cutiye Council. as Premier and Minister of Finance, who shall
Taxes: ~ Of CUrrenny and C ~ VIZ ., i", ol n internal
Charges and Commissions 4th, of Fines, Penalties and For
lectures 9th, OF Government RealizatiOns 9th, of the Great
SecOndty-George Austin Woods, Esq, a member of our
Executive Council, as the Minister of Interior Affairs, who
shall see faithfully executed, in the respective islands, all the
duties assigned to the following Bureaux, viz, LIST, of the Sur
yyey and Sale of Lands, and the Land Office I'd, of Internal
Ihirdty-John Temple Sugar, Esq a member of our Exc
culIve Council, as the Minister of Trade and Commerce. who
shah see lalthiully executed, in the respective islands, all the
duties assigned TO the following Bureaux, viz LIST, of Internal
Commerce I'd. OF External Commerce Sd, of Foreign Rela-
tons 4th, OF Foreign lmposts; 9Th, of Naturalization.
Fourthiy-Ratu Savanaca, a member of the Executive
faithfully executed, in the respective Islands, ali the duties as
signed to the following Bureaux, viz. LIST, of Gubernatorial or
Native judicial Matters.
Fifhiy-Ratu Timoci, a member of our Executive Council.
as the Minister Of Ma, and Police, who shall see faithfully
executed, in the respective islands, all the duties assigned to
the following Bureaux, viz, LIST, of Internal Instructions I'd,
Of II ClVu COnstaDulary ID, OF the Military.
Si~Tthty-James c. Smith, Esq, a member of our Executive
S~eUentAly-Gustavus Hennjngs, Esq, a member of our
Executive Council.
And each of you shall be solely accountable to us for the
faithful aud lawful execution of the duties assigned to you, and
for the official acts of all officers under you in your several de-
partments. And for so doing this shall be your commission.
The proclamation was a perfect surprise. As
soon as the reading was finished. and the King and
his attendants had retired, a resident called the
meeting to order, bitter speeches were made, and
then a scene of tumult and confusion ensued. end
ing in an adjournment to meet at the reading
room" in the evening. There more violent
speeches were made. the usual want of u%nanimity
displayed, the King sneered at as a " petty chief"
without power, and his newly appointed ministers
branded as ulprincipled adventurers and impu-
dent usurpers. The meeting ended in the election
of a committee to devise some plan of govern
ment, it being decided to r~epudiate the action of
Thakombau entirely.
On the Ssh. the Premier, Mr.. Burt. on behalf of
the ministry, issued a manifesto. which is an ex-
tremely well worded and sufficiently digniGed pa
per, explaining the causes that led to the appoint
ment of the Executive by the King. The reasons
given appear to be sound, and the promises of a
policy to be pursued are liberal. A notice APP
pears in the government Gazette of the same date,
summoning delegates from the different islands
and districts to meet at Levuka, on the LIST of
August, " to amend the Constitution in such way
as to render it acceptable, and adapted to the al
tered circumstances and requirements of the isl
ands."
The King. in his proclamation announcing the
appointment of his cabinet, states that the Consti-
tuition is similar in principle to that of the Ha-
waiian Government, which has been in successful
operation (npon a very moderate expenditure)
nearly forty years" We wonld like to know
which Hawaiian Constitution His Majesty has got
hold of-that of 1852. or the one under which cur
of State is now running-or possibly the old
blue book" of 1910? The policy of the govern
ment is foreshadowed as follows:
The attention of my Government will he at once directed
1; To measures for the adjustment of titles and claims to
2 To the survey and management of Public Lands.
8. The protection of European residents and property.
5. An adequate Postal System.
8. A Bank of deposit and issue, guaranteed by the Crown.
and secured on Public Lands and Revenues.
z. The liberalization of the various Chiefdoms, and the
blending of their interests with those of my Govern
nent.
S: The recognition of my Government by the Foreign Powers
with whom l have not hitherto had any intercourse.
Thus the history of Hawaii nei is repeating it.
in FIJI. Kamehameha Ill. had the same fac
Jious and unreasonable opposition to contend with
rom the foreign element when he was laying the
foundations of the Hawaiian Government, that
now rises up in opposition to T~hakombau's wise
'ndeavor to bring his dominions within the pale of
RdeRsndent nations. The latter bnwasAa bperfdu
when he is likely to have tn moral and material
aid of powerful nations in bnilding up his king
1om. If he shall be equally fortunate with Kane
the Good in securing the services of a
Premier of indomitable energy and 6rmness of
character, he will undoubtedly meet with toe sue
which we wish him. and we may ere long well
come a Minister Resident from the Kingdom of
Fiji.
From Australia.
The c., n. z. & A. steamer Wonga Wonga, Cap
J. Steuart. arrived at this port on Monday p.