The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-01-03

/ e''.99 ""Niu nave Hheu 70 nave lelb the manage
ment of all native affairs in the hands Of the
native chieftains, and to have had separate
quasi municipal-governmen for the whites !;
but besides the great difficulty of working out
such scheme, the basis for the white mems pro-
posed government was wanting They could not.
give any municipal powers to themselves. and the
native rulers, not having any recognizable position
as Princes capable of granting charters of incor-
poration, could not confer such powers. All
parties would have been glad to see some great
Power step in and take possession of the whole
archipelago. But none of the great Powers felt
inclined to do anything Of the sort, especially the
Power towards which the most hopeful eyes
were cast-Great Britain. And here let me
pause for an instant to say that the most extra
ordinary misrepresentation have been persever-
ingly circulated as to facts materially affecting
English interference; sometimes through igno-
rance, but often it is to be feared with an intent
to lead the British Government into a task
which once undertaken could not be abandoned.
1t was constantly assumed and declared. That
Thakombau was King Of Fiji g That as such
King he was ready and willing to cede the whole
country to Great Britain, or to any great mari
time Power which would accept the sovereignty
in short that the Kingdom of FIJI was going
a begging. 3. And that FIJI could, at very little
trouble and expense, have been converted into an
orderly British colony, and the Fijians themselves
= chiefs and people = into peaceful and law
abiding British subjects. Now, the facts are
l. That Thakombau has never until very recently
indeed within the last week or sol been King of
FIJI de j,a-e, but only King of Bau and that he
is not even now so far King of Fiji de f1cto as
that be could cede the whole Archipelago to a
foreign Power 2. That Thakombau had never
had the slightest intention Of ceding even his own
dominions in such a manner as would make them
a British colony in the true sense of the term,
and would make himself and his people British
subjects; but has only, when under pressure from
without, been DESTROYS Of invoking protectorate
which should recognize and support his authority
as King Of Bau. keep the white men in order.
and aid by its influence and wealth in the material
progress of the country. g. And that nothing
but merely Protectorate Government would at
any time have been possible - that is to say,
without sacrifice of blood and treasure which is
not to be thought of; for although the Fijiaus
might have submitted for time to the legal
restraints of a British colonial administration, il
would certainly not have been for long. An
efficient PrOtectorate Government, to which all
the ruling chiefs would have submitted, could. no
douhf hova haap vary aos;l,, c,r,,ol IL -.
cheaply maintained but if the British Ministry
were not prepared to accept supremacy in Fiji on
these terms, they did quite right in refusing it.
But let us return to the present state of things
1t being felt on all hands that something must be
done that this something must be initiated by
the white men; and that those who may be
regarded as the principals and leaders were too
busy to undertake the work. it was boldly. though
quietly, entered upon by others. Thakombau
being undoubtedly sovereign chief, and the only
such chief who could become the head of Con-
stitutional Kingdom, with Levuka for its capital
it was resolved to rely upon his authority for
basis. One fine day, therefore, and with but very
short notice, the Levukaus were told that it was
The pleasure of King Thakombau to found Con-
stitutional Government in and for his dominions
and that, for this purpose, he had appointed
certain gentlemen to certain high ministerial
offices. Popular Indignation was aroused to a
great extent, especially at all this having been
done so quietly and without any public meetings.
The new Government was not only secuted at as
ief-constituted, (which no doubt it was) but was
made the subject of formal protest to the Brit
sh Consul, and was denounced in all manner Of
ways as a sham," if not something worse In
he meantime, however, the Ministers" went
steadily on, engaged two-storied wooden build
ng, fitted it up neatly for Government Offices"
engaged few Civil servants THE easiest part of
heir task, there being plenty Of candidates. and
'egan to organize executive machinery Now
hat the thing was done, many of the best men
n the place came in and gave it their support,
ome of them taking Office, although leaving the
of the movement to do most of the
york. 1t was the same with many others who
hurried to Leyuka from their plantations and
Who we're opposed, perhaps, more to the leaders
han to the movement itself. On inquiry, they
nund the thing was being worked out in an in.
eigent, practical way; that foundation had
zen laid upon which IN efficient government
hight be built up; and that it would be rank |
ply not to try and work it out The Ministers,
90, went the proper way to work to dsarm. OPP
osition, by summoning convention Of delegates
ON all parts of the Archipelago to construct a
The delegates we're elected but
he general feeling seemed still against the Gov
rnment- In some paces-in Levuka, especially
the most determined resistance was spoken Of,
nd fierce attacks upon the movement itself, and
i who supported it, appeared in the newspapers
ut the delegates chosen were, upon the whole,
superior set Of men-persons who would be
'garded as such in any Australian Legislature
I'd they had not long met ere the aspect Of
lings began to change 1t was felt by them, as
had been by others, that Thakombaus advis-
> were acting in perfectly good faith that
ere was at length chance of forming an ef-
ctive and liberal government for all Fiji /; and
at if this chance we're let clip there would never,
all probability, be such another The browning
iumph of the provisional administration was
e ladhesion Of Maafu, the TUT Lau, the only
eat chief of FIJI who could have successfully
sputed Thakombau's position, and without ,
nose suppOrt Thakomhau cond navar havo 49,, .