The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-04-11
FHE PACIFIC
Commercial AOOettistr.
SATURDAY,. APRIL n.
The Situation IN FIJI.
From the New Zealand Herald. March l4lh

The news from Fiji by the last mail confirms
the opinion we expressed on receipt Of the letter
10 King Cakobau from the ROYAL Commissioners.
If there were any doubt as 70 the meaning Of that
letter there can be none as TO the deliberate
utterauces Of the Commodore and Consul al a
public meeting convened by the Commissioner to
state their views on the future government Of the
country.
The Commodore opened the meeting By thank
ing the gentlemen present for their full attend
ance in response 10 his and the Consul's invita-
ton. He wished TO speak to them about annex
alton and 10 derive all possible information from
those present and their opinions especially on the
following questions " hat government they
thought best suited to the country-a Crown
colony with q legislative Assembly, or one with
representative Institutions having an Assembly
composed Of members elected by the settlers with
an Executive COMPOSED Of officers Of the Crown
Also whether a. a community they were prepared
70 take upon themselves the liabilities OF FIJI and
also TO meet the necessary expenditure Of a gov
ernment?' The Commodore wished them to hold
meetings and discuss these questions, and let him
know the result at which they arrived. The
Commissioner we're anxious 10 do everything
frankly and openly, for they felt very strongly
that there bad been a succession of surprises.
The final answer Of the Imperial Government
could not come for some time, be it what it
might, and they trusted to the settlers keeping
the peace in the interval. They had advised the
King that no action should be taken by him or
his Ministry, without tie consent Of the Consuls
of foreign poweE. till the final answer was re-
ceiyed. "Onc thing more concluded the Com
modore " when first coming to Fiji, | was assailed
with representations of the disorderly state of the
country, but have been very much astonished 10
find as much order as in any British community.
And as | 90 further my belief is strengthened
He added how delighted he had been with the
apparent wealth Of the soil, the capabilities of
the land and variety and value of its productions.
Only confidence was required to insure the intro
duction of means for the development of the
country's resources, and he hoped that all whom
he addressed g would succeed in making a happy
home in Fill"
There can be no doubt that these words indi-
cate a strong sympathy with the settlers in their
difficulty with the government and an opinion
that annexation is the only remedy. Consul
Layard, who followed the Commodore, was, if
possible, still more clear and emphatic. He told
the settlers he had little To add TO what had been
said by the Commodore. They had as Commits
sloners . formed their opinions independently of
each other, but, when comparing notes, found
that they agreed entirely" They could only
report on and state what they had seen and the
authorities would draw from the report their own
opinion. Mr.. Layard then explained that any
government must be one which fairly represented
the interests of the natives as well as the white
men and he ready and able to hold the balance
between them. He should be willing to assist
them on the labor question. They might trust
him at the same time to look out sharply after
them, and must not be angry with him for doing
his duty. Mr.. Layard concluded as follows
AT present FIJI is in a transition stage and l hope
you will go on peaceably and quietly. If the
final settlement be annexation it will cut the
Gordian knot if not, you will have to take a
fresh departure. | am glad to have an oppOrtu-
nifty of thanking you for the welcome you have
given to myself and son in Fiji. l came out here
very much prejudiced, but my opinion has very
much changed during my stay here"
1t is unnecessary to 90 into the utterances OF
others at this important meeting, as they are
interesting rather to residents than TO those who
take an interest in the future government Of the
group. There were about two hundred settlers
present and they were unanimous in preferring Il
Representative Assembly with an Executive of
permanent officials. They were tired of the at
tempts at Constitutional Government in a COM
munity where the men who could be best trusted
"-e 600 -~eh occupied WIN tnelr own affairs to
take an efficient part i'll those of the public. 1t
must have been highly gratifying to the settlers
to hear the Commissioners after visiting the most
outlying parts of the group and going over the
plantations, express so high a sense of the order
everywhere prevailing and their readiness to
assist IN every legitimate means of supplying
labor after seeing how we'll the imported men
were everywhere treated. To those who know
FIJI and the high character of the very great
majority of its settlers, this effect of personal
intercourse with the Commissioners will not be
surprising. The contrary impression originated
chiefly in a by-gone. age when the whole Of the
white population consisted of a few score runaway
sailors now dead or driven by the advance of
civilization to other islands. 1t was due also to
the erroneous notions of geography which make
the Fijis responsible for barbarities ommitted in
groups from which they are more distant than
from New Zealand. The settlers must have felt.
as they listened to the Commissioners, that the
clouds so long enyeloping them were beginning to
and that they might yet hope TO receive
from their fellow countrymen the need of praise
and sympathy due to those who have gone forth
the wilderness Of a savage and cannibal
country and aided to introduce into it the bless
Of English law, commerce, and civilization.
No wonder they valued highly the good opinion
IF the first independent and competent men who
have had an opportunity Of thoroughly investi-
the affairs of the group, and meeting in
heir homes all classes Of its settlers. The " three
'inging cheers for the Queen, the three more for
he Commodore, and the three for the Consul"
with which the meeting closed, must have come
rom the hearts of men who have seen themselves
orely vIllifed and threatened with reduction
lnder the government of an ignorant native King,
by inherent right to do with them and
heirs as might seem best fitting to his Royal will
md Ministers