The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-03-18
Fit.
Lsyuka, January 81.

Lsyukd, January Il.
10 my last communication I referred TO the
successful efJrts of the present Governor To pu'
down the abuses which arose IN SIR. \. Gordon r
time, in connection with the Bose Naka Turaga.
OF annual meeting 81 native chiefs. Considerable
doubt was expressed ~ To whether the instTuc-
tions issued this year by Ills Excellency to the
ROkus. OF principal chiefs, ON the subject would
be Obeyed by them, and not "a few predicted that
they would be treated with contempt. To the
surprise Of those, however, and the qualification
Of everyone, they received due attention, and.
for the fist time, something like order and re-
spectabilIty gained a inuiing ia the meeting this
year. Not only for thu. however. does His EN-
ecIlency deserve great credit. but for his pluck in
boarding those very chiefs, by informing them IN
his address to them while assembled, that cpHn-
plants had reached his e,rs Of OF pressiun un the
part Of sumo of those before hun towards the
people over whom they were placed in authority.
&c. IL Il now a recognized fact tirat the system
developed by SIR Arthur Gordon, by placing ST.
much power ia the hands Of the Rukos, has been
productive of much oppression towards the bulk
of the native people. Before the advent of
British rule these RDkps were held i'm check by
the fear of the deseTtIUn of their tribes To the
enemy through oppression since then this check
has been removed, and their hands strengthened
by the action Oi tie Government unifurmly up
holding their actions and authority. The RukUs,
taking advantage at tins state of affairs, ground
down their people To- a -taje of bondage and fear
| uDkuOAu III Alc pi4cu AlllBH, uhlll iutlE CRY. Ike
the lsraelites IN Egypi, went up into heaven. aud
reached even the dull ears OF the Government
here on earth. His Exceliency z remarks on the
subject have made Il profound impression on rho
native mind, who now are questioning the auto
cratic power OF their cIiie.s. aud are directing
their eyes To- the Government as the true source
Of all power and influence IN Fiji. BY this act.
as well as many others of a similar tendency, our
Governor Il fast gaining the affection Of both thc
European and native races III this colony IL IL
only due To tie Rukps to say thai they have taken
His Excellency's hints kindly, and are already
acting upon them. ~
His Exceilency. la n message To the member.
OF the Legislative Council. said - For reasonl
which | intend TO give III cnrnGcIiun with a new
Labor Ordinance, soUa Ia be introduced lar you
eonsideratiun.i can hold OUT no hope that tin
supply otnative labor will for a long time to com,
he much greater than it Is ut present, except il
case Of plantations established IN the ~neighbor
hOJ1 Of villages. L c labor Of Pulynesians IL
continually becoming more expensive. and tor thl
and other reasons II Is probable that their intro
ductiOn will soon cease altogether. From India
the only remaining source of supply. IL is posi-
bic that "a large nunSeT OF labOrers may b.
eventually secured but tie organization Of re
cruIring agencies at different centres Of uOpu
latipn requires time, and Tor the next twJ year
we cannot hope Tor Il greater supply than is re
quirud 10y the capital ia the country
The Government is not To remove to Suva fhi
month. IL was intended rome time ago. Midwin
ter Il tie time now spoken of. but there are thos
vino. viewing the monetary difficulties OF the CIV
eminent, think the year 1882 will not rec 1t i
SuvI. The Governor residence and other build
inEs have first To- be erected. and tenders for then
are not out vet even IL they were. where II III
money To cpuie from? Hence Levuka rests quit
easy tor this year. But. IN any case. Levuka ha
nothing to fear from her rival. The rapid expan
sion Of trade ia the cIlpuy will more than IccOu
any lDss sustained by ii C removal.