The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-23

federation There can hardly be federa-
tic with adjoining groups, there. are
large stretches of ocean between, no ca
ble or steam communication, except via
Auckland. Ore objection New Zealand
will have to face in this matter win
pre- baby be competition from Australia,
but there is no reason why there should
not be fair division of the islands be-
tween New Zealand and Australia. The
latter could take those nearest, say, New
Guinea, New Britain and Soloman ISL
ards, and the rest to New Zealand. i
think that is what viii ultimately happen.
That would give New Zealand Tonga, Ra-
ristorga and Fiji, and several smaller
groups, which, by the way, are the best
from a European point of view, as there
is 10 ralarial fever in the islandS have
named, and the climate is enjoyed by all
visitors. These islands are swept by the
southeast trade-winds and the soil Is
fertile. At present the bulk of the land
in Fiji is held by the natives, but can be
leased under the Government There are
100000 acres altogether, with 1900 miles
of coast line. Only about a. quarter of
a million acres were alienated by Euro
pee rs holding the fee simple
| rs the native Fij.an dying out?"
| Yes, thirty wears ago the population
of Fiji was 100000, but last year. it was
cnly about 100000. You will remember
S5,ooO died In 1874 from measles. Strong
efforts are, however, being made by the
Governor. Sir George O'Briea. to check
the death rate amongst the natives. He
has appointed four Europeans as inspect
crs to try ard teach The natives to life In
a more sanitary state. At the present
time three large hospitals are being
erected by the Government in order to en-.
deaSor to cope with the matter of the
health of the natives. Most of this work
has been done under the regime of Sir
George O'Brien, who, you know. Is
absolute, with a nominee Legislative
Council. In a Crown colony everything
must go as the Governor decides"
Would not the trade be benefited by
extending the boundaries of New Zealand
to include Flip"
"At the present time there are practi-
oally five steamers of the Union Steam
shifs Company employed all the. year
found connecting Fill with Auckland.
|. In the event of federation or annexation
to New Zealand, Auckland would natnr-
ally, from It's position, be the emporium
for tho Pacific Island trade. Tho sugar
industry is very large item. The crop
, this year is 5000 tons. all of which comes
to the Auckland refinery. At the present
time the Colonial Sugar Refining Com
5 pany is opening up another large pianta-
: ton and factory at a cost of about q
Quarter of a million. This is expected to
: increase the annual output of sugar by
= mere coolies are being now landed from
\ India. and 5000 mules have been imported
as well as half million feet of timber
> from California The plant obtained from
: Europe is said to be. the finest in the
r. world<l Eli c4n produce tea Ialtxisft hut
: In the meantime the labor problem has
y checked the growth of that industry We
{ went into coffee. but the plantations
" we're wrecked by the same disease that
: ruined those in Ceylon- The next most
important industry TO sugar is the copra,
l. equal to something under s50o. 600, most of
e which goes to Sydney and Europe. The
$ fruit is our third most important indus
n try, but there is also the beche de mer
5, pearl shell and minor things. DistillIng
is also carried on to a large extent by the
/ sugar company, and a very large guam
f titv of raw spirit is now sent to Sydney.
J. 1 consider there are large possibilities
before Fill, but capital is wanted. OF
le course, 1t Is no place for what Is termed
,e the ordinary working man, as nearly ev-
&c erything is zone by black labor"
do you think the islands viii object
to being included with New Zealand?''
Il don't see why they should not agree
TO be taken over by New Zealand, but II
Australia was to make the same offer nc
= doubt the desire of the settlers would bt
III the direction of being included In the
stronger group. and the more wealth,
community. So you see there may b
some competition for the Islands. O
CT urse, Auckland has the advantage o.
situation, being about 600 miles nearer
bur on the other hand Sydney. has tn,
largest firms and, what is Of still create
Importance. is a free port. Our custom
duty Ia about 12iz per cent, New Zeal
and's is Is per cent. while Sydney Is free
Then We have no land and income tar
Our consolidated debt Is $1.109.oo0 for
population of 900, while yours is owe
SCI. 200. 900 for a population of under 500.
90. From my point of view 1t seem
iscarcely fair for Fiji to pay extra Gus
tens duty upon loan money expended 1
his colony, but of course these are ma,
ters that could be arranged by the spe
ciai legislation to which l previously re
ftued. At the same time 1 recogniz
that the destiny of these Islands is TO be
oone federated either with New Zealan
or Australia. The feeling of many of th
people in the islands is that federatio
should be with the whole of Australia an
adjacent islands, in che powerful con
me- nwealth.
Now, as regards the mail scrvice?''
"Well, the discrimination OF the Can;
diam Australian mail service was a grea
blow 10 FIJI. as it stopped the touri
traffic. Now that Germany owns Api
think the steamers should call at Fl
Instead. Ii would only be about half
cay longer. At present have no sc
vice excepting by Samoa to Auckland
Sydney. j saw Mr.. Seddon personally u
OIL this matter when in wellington, a.
REPRESENTED the wishes Of the Fiji col
nists, and he said he would mention Z
matter to the agents of the steamers
r3ay say in conclusion that at present &
position Of Fiji is very satisfactory DO
con mercially and financially. Our rey
nl1e has EXCEEDED tho estimate by sever
tho usands the accumulated balance
the credit of the coIogs being about -
co. The first quarter of s20.es 20 So
over the estimate"