The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1873-12-17
Anarchy i'm Fiji.


News of another armed rebellion of whites at Fiji
has been received in Australia by vessel which left
Levuka on the Sth October. This is to the effect that
anarchy prevailed at Levuka, and that the whites
we're armed and refused to pay more taxes. Prior to
the dissolution of the late Parliament, supplies were
granted upto the end of August The general elect
ion Of members to the new Parliament, in which cleo
ton the Government has declared that the natives
shall be allowed to vote, has not yet taken place. and
consequently there is Parliament, in existence,
and majority of the white settlers has for some
time past maintained an incorporating opposition
to the Government. Early in September, the Cham
Der of Commerce ct Levuka passed resolutions decar
ing that the Government had no constitutional au-
thorty collect Customs duties after 3lst CT August
and protesting against paying Customs duties until
the meeting Of Parliament but in order to avoid
collision with the authorities, the chamber agreed
that goods should be bonded A meeting of the in
babitants was also held, at which resolutions
passed declaring that the Executive ought not to be
permitted to receive money, taxes or duties which
they were not by law justified in expanding, and
ought to be resisted and that, the Ministry had
issued drafts unjusti6aby, which had been returned
dshonOred they entitled to the distrust of the
community. The disturbance commenced through
the Government refusing to permit Mr.. Hedemann
to take goods from his bonded store. His clerk
opened the bond and number of native soldiers
Gupleu u anu enQeaVOreQ 10 arrest the clerk. Inc
whites, several Of whom were armed, determined to
prevent the arrest, and fight was imminent, when
the British and German consuls arrived, and the
clerk surrendered to them. deputation, headed
by the mayor, had an interview with the King,
and stated their grievances. Mr.. c. X. Forwood,
His Majesty's advocate, spokesman on behalf of
the deputation and he detailed tho grievances fol-
lows That the whites had gone to reside there
and had laid out capital equal in value to all the
lands held by the King and the chiefs, resting sat
uFa1 hat Il
carry out the promises made by them that they had
then agreed, in conjunction with the chiefs, that
there should be constitutional government similar
to that in England, with His Majesty at the head
King of Fiji and that he obtained his authority as
sovereign in that way, and not by of his hav
ing formerly been called King Of Tut Miti a
matter of courtesy. But the Constitution Act which
gave him his place provided that his Ministers should
have the confidence Of the white Assembly, and that
the expenditure of the country should be authorized
by the Assembly; that contrary to that act his Minis
tiers were continued in Office, although the Assembly
which had last met had four times declared by over
whelmng majorties that they had confidence in
them, and they were levying taxes and expanding
them without the authority of Parliament and were
they admitted, persuadng the King to be despot,
contrary to his oath. That the whites had enmi-
ty to the King to the chiefs who they believed in
tended well, but they looked upon the present Minis
ters at any rate the Premier and Chief Secretary
traitors to the King and Constitution, and would
never be satisfied until they were removed, as they
were running the country, inviting bloodshed, and
asking the King to in acts which within a
week would determine his reign neither the whites
nor the great chiefs would submit to it, and at the
time they giving Government drafts on
the colonies, which were being dishonored, and
placing the country under dishonest liabilities which
would never be paid. Mr.. Forwood stated that tho
whites would not pay any more taxes till the Assem-
bly, had met and respectfully told the King that they
would support him IL he would change his advisers,
which would end the trouble, and requested that he
would allow some Of the deputation to shake hands
with him token that they friendly disposed
towards his Government, and only objected to his
Ministers. An answer promised next, day, but
then the King refused to allow any more than five
persons to pass through the body of the natives
troops stationed along the road. The depntatOn,
which numbered about $50, believing that the five
would be arrested refused to proceed further and the
native force closed on them. scrimmage ensued,
and one native was wounded. Mr.. G. S. Smith, Mr..
Hayden, and sailor named Dan were taken prison.
ers, and several of the Europeans received ugly
bruises from the troops muskets. As the natives
were becoming very excited, the whites retired. The
captain of II. NJ. S. Blanche has issued proclama-
ton, warning British subjects against taking up
arms. The greatest excitement prevailed des-
patch to the New South Wales Government from
Captain Simpson, Of II. NJ. S. Blanche, says that
during the disturbance at LeVuka all communication
between vessels and shore has been stopped. Hos
tilities suspended the Sth September, but the
whites steadfastly refused to recognise the Govern
ment, or pay taxes The planters from the neghbor-
ing islands expected to join in the resistance.
Fears entertained of the natives burning the
town, but the presence of the Blanche is likely to
prevent that. On the Sth, proclamation by the
King, countersgned by Mr.. Thurston, announced the
firm intention of the Fijian Government to repress
treason, and maintain the royal authority and laws
by such measures and force necessary against
all residents, whether natives whites. The pro-
clamaton asks the assistance Of ali wel-dispOsed
persons to maintain the laws. Mr. Thurston also
notifies the removal of Mr.. Cudlip from the mayora-
ty Of Levuka, and Messrs. Allan, Baltic and Forwood
from the magstracy and the latter from the Office of
Kings advocate. Captain Simpsons proclamation
warns all British subjects whether in Cacobau's
poyment not, against participating in any breach
Of the peace, for which each individual will be held
personally responsible. No later news has been re-
reived