The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-09-30
The Fills.

The news from this important group of Poly
nesia is extremely interesting. On the 9th o
August, a convention of delegates called by the
King, met at Livuka, for the purpose Of adopting
a Constitution for the Kingdom of FIJI
After a short and with few exceptions a harmo.
NOUS session, the labors of the Convention were
formally closed by the King in person on the
18th. The result of their labors has been a
Constitution, in some respects modelled after that
of the Hawaiian Kingdom, presenting to the
country representative responsible government.
We have not been favored with a copy Of the doc
ument, but gather its principal features from the
editorial summary of the Times.
The Constitution provides for civil and relig-
ious liberty, giving the right to all of freely
speaking or writing and publishing their senti-
pents, while responsible for the abuse of that
right and extends to all the privileges of the
writ of ha6eas corpus. By the twelfth clause,
slavery is forbidden, and any slave entering the
kingdom of FIJI shall be free" If half the stories
we read are true, the operation of this clause will
be to send back to their homes much of the : : i'm
ported labor now in the islands. No taxes are
to be levied without the consent of the Legislative
Assembly. No retrospective laws are to be en-
acted. 1.-THE supreme power of the Kingdom in
its exercise, is divided into the Executive, Legis-
lative and Judicial these shall always be pre-
served distinct, and no judge of a Court of record
shall ever be a member of the Legislative Assem-
bly, "The government of the Kingdom of FIJI
is that of a Constitutional Monarchy, under his
Majesty Cakobau (rhakombau) his HERS and sue
cessors.' All laws to become operative must be
signed by the King. The Kingdom of Fiji is
sub-divided into Provinces, to he ruled by native
Governors, who shall be members of the Privy
Council. Such Council to consist of the Cover
nors and one chief from each district, together
with the members of the Cabinet. The Council
will receive all Bills passed by the Assembly. and
will have the power of suggesting additions, al
t~erations, or amendments, and then returning the
Bills to the Assembly for their consideration. 1t
will be perceived that this Council so far performs
the functions of an Upper House. The object has
been by its formation to obviate the necessity of
the two races mingling in the Assembly and vot-
ing together upon such questions as might be
brought forward a state of things open to great
objection and which possibly might have led to
great abuse.
The Ministry, as provided for by the C~onstitu-
ton, was filled by the publication of a "Royal
Commission " on August 25th, as follows; George
Woods, ESQ.,, Minister for LaAd and
Works Sydney Charles Burt, Esq, Chief Secre-
tary; Frederick William Hennings, ESQ.,, Minis
ter Of Finance James Cobban Smith. ESQ.,,
Of Trade and Commerce John Temple
Sugar, Esq, Minister of Ma tive Affairs. These
shall hold Office during his Majesty's pleasure,
to impeachment or retirement on political
It is SO mewhat difficult to understand
What the FIJI Constitution makers mean when
hey provided that the Ministers shall be subject
C retirement on political grounds while holding
flee "during his Majesty pleasure The Leg
is a triennial one, holding annual meet
ngs. The payment of taxes, being of age, and a
tx months residence, are the qualifications of an
lector. The Judiciary is to consist of Chief
Justice, and two Associate Justices, Zone of whom
must be a native), and such inferior courts as may
e created. These are the leading features of the
of the Kingdom of FIJI, which is to {
o into effect on the first day of October, and I'M
er which the elections are to take place during
month for the Legislative Assembly.
Thus, in spite of ridicule and opprobrium, Mr..
and his colleagues have succeeded in making
be first important steps in the direction Of the
ola government for FIJI. The Consti-
1tion appears to be liberal and fair, and it now
,mains for the people by the enactment of Just
nd equal laws 20 complete the work of q united =
nd liberal government for this rising state of /
eeanica.