The Hawaiian gazette., 1875-02-10
HAWAIIAN GAZETTE
Annexation of Fiji.
speeeh OF sIr neren1e. Ronln.or

annexation Of the Fjian Group 10 the BIRTHS
Empire. banquet was given TO His Exeelleue
by the citizens Of Sydney. in celebration Of tb
event, in the Merchants Dining Hall Exchange
Besides the Governor there were present the e1
King Of Ftp and bis two sous, and numerou
guests The dinner was presided over by Hon
John Hay, President Of the legislative Council
Several speeches we're made, but the most inter
estiEg were those Of the Governor. the Chairman
and the E1-Hing, which, though quite lengthy
We copy from the AoTRiag Herald OF Decem
( Der 2l:
Sir Hercules Robinson, in rising to respond
was received with loud aud continuous applause
He said III has gwen me great pleasure to &C
cept your invitation to meet you here Ibis even.
ing. Next to the approval of his Sovereign
there is nothing more agreeable to public man
in my position than the appreciation Of those
with whom be may be brought in contact in the
discharge OF the duties Of bis ofice-(applause)
aud it is, therefore, very gratifying to me to find
that the mercantile community of Sydney, for
whose good opinion | entertain so sincere. a re-
spect, should have thought my services in counec-
ton with the eession Of FIJI deserving of the
recognition which they have SO handsomely &C.
corded to them here this evening. There is an
old FJian custom, which wish for your sakes
had been extended 10 New South Wales. AT.
taehed to the staff of every high chief in Fiji is
mata-ni-Sauua, or speaking mau, whose duty it is
10 make speeches for bis master. (Laughter)
Like the practice amongst the maoris of New
Zealand Of appointing lighting and speaking gen
erals it is sensible and practical recognition of
q worldwide fact, that men Of action are not
necessarily men Of words (Cheers) A man
may be a very fair administrator, and At the same
time very indifferent speaker. The mata.ni
yanua is accordingly selected for bis aptitude for
talk, and IS supposed to be versed in all the
clever and seductive tricks OF the art. am sure
often wish that had attached to nv staff a
mata-ni-vanua; for find that have but little
talent for what has been aptly described as the
ornamental expression Of nothing and there is no
duty more distasteiul to q modest man than to
have to speak Of himself and his acts. However
on this occasion, 1 am happy to say it is my
pleasing task to dwell more on the merits of
Others than on my own acts and am very glad
to have tbs opportunity Of publicly acknowledg-
ing how much the success of my recent mission |
to FgI is attributable TO the sklfclI preparation |
Of the ground BY those who preceded me, and the |
good qualities Of those with whom had to deal.
[ Loud appnuse) The abors Of the late Com. /
friend Commodore Goodenougb
and Mr. Layard-( applause Extending over
i've months, have not yet | think received the
appreciation they deserve. The object for which
hey were undertaken was, no doubt, temporarily
delayed, but that cannot think, detract in any
way from the merits Of those to whose exertiops
We are indebted for the very complete informa-
ion as to FIJI which we now possess. (Hear.
lear) 1t must be borne in mind that matters in
fiji at the time of the visit of the Commissioners
we're scarcely ripe for an unconditional cesson Of
he country. Influential persons connected with
hat Government had got an idea into their heads
hat the Islands were coveted by England as Ma.
otis vineyard was by Ahab of old, and that we
hOuld be willing to make almost any sacrifice to
btain the object upon which we had set our
carts. They seemed TO think they had only to
pen their mouths wide enough and we should
istantiy jump down their throats, and it was not
ntil the conditions proposed to the Commission.
ers he'd been peremptorily declined By the In
erial Government that these persons aEoke 70 Z
ne sense Of the situation. Besides the Com
issioners were only directed to inquire and re-
ort to the Home Government, and we're there 7
~ not 10 position to bring negotiations to a a
as if they had been armed with plenary :
over. Clear, hear.) They, however, produced 2
report which, to ny mind, displays great ability c
ID research. (Hear, hear.) know it was Of I
e greatest possible help to me in the prosecu- i
% Of the mission with which was entrusted, b
d am confident that il will be for wears 70 '
me the textbook to which successful reference r
n be made BY suy one requiring information as +
the climate, resources, native customs, and q
st political history Of the new colony. Can Il
ause.) Indeed l can only say that often felt q
most ashamed during the progress of my nego- b
ltions OF the extent to which was proftiug by Il
result Of the labor Of those who preceded me. o.
our many OfyOu, dare say, have seen what m
cd man the Commodore is across country. II
lear, hear.) Wei, 1 felt, when was in FIJI. -
If we're riding after him over a stiff country. Of
that be, having broken the top nails, was II
umPhantiy gaIloping through tho gaps. CLAugh- A
and cheers.) Bot it is not only to the labors II
the Commission that much of the Success of fo
mission is due. l must not forget to acknoEl. q,
ge also the good qualities displayed BY the Vi
ers OF the people. Foremost amongst these in ~
aenee, and in those ehief-like qualities which III
lo6ie the possessor, be be black or white. / 7.
st plaee the man who is now sitting near me, to
who is one Of your principal guests here this III
ming. cloud and continued applause.) Nov ia
vas too much the fashion l think for our own m,
ntyueu Of certain class, with little knowl II
e Of the world. and limited educational adyau- an
es-to divide the human race into two sec or
ls-eiviiized EngIishmeu and benighted savages. m
y seem TO think that nobility of mind is con- If
d to beings Of their own color; and they fire. he
utly overlook the Obvious truth that savage W
ues are at all events preferable to the vices of
lizaiion- remember once hearing rather an
lzing illustration of this An English mis- h,
AIRY, on bis return from China, landed in Lon Al
at thu Fast India Oneks He an,a,ra5 = -