The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-02-05
NEWS FROM
COLONIES
Premier Seldom on the
Fiji Troubles,
BIG FIRE IN AUCKLAND
Plans for Colonization OF All the
Islands in the Southern
Pacific.

said that New zealanders, as well as
Australians had suffered an injustice
through Samoa being virtually handed
over to Germany, but the Imperial au-
thorities had made compensation for this
In some degree by the extension of a
British protectorate over the Somth Sea
Islands. The people of New Zealand,
however, did not think that this went
far enough. His Government had fixed
as part of their policy the idea that
all islands of the Southern Pacific should
become colonalised. His views were by
means aggressive. He cared not one
jot for the trade of Fiji, but he did
want to see the Fijian and Tonga group
made colonial. He desired that self
government be given to Fiji in the terms
OF the convention CT 1885, but he had
never sought it's annexation by New
Zealand In his opinion, Governor
O'Brien's policy had created a dis
turbance in the minds of the natives and
set back the matter of seif-government
of the islands for years, because the
natives Were given to understand that
The object of the white man was to take
their lands from them. France, Ger
many and America had a naval or
military base in the Pacific, and it was
time that the British people, as repre-
scented in the colonies, looked after
themselves and saw that no such bases
were established to their detriment.
The Rev. George Brown, secretary of
the Wesleyan missions, when interview
ed in reference to the cable received
by Mr. Seddon to the effect that the
Governor of Fiji had threatened to de-
port a leading missionary, said that he
cd M inf ion, in
regard to the matter, but was quite GER
tain that If there were any likelihood
Of such an extreme course being taken
he would have received a cable from
the chairman of the Fiji district Mr..
Brown has seen Mr.. Seldom on the sub
ject
The Telegraph says that the alleged
threat to deport Fiji missionary for
advocating federation with New Zealand
calls imperatively for investigation The
question involved is far more important
than merely one of whether the mission
airy had exceeded his privileges. A de-
termined attack had been made by a
reputable person on the Crown colony
system and If that system was being
maladministered in Fiji, then no time
should be lost in putting it on a basis
that was more humane and more con-
sistent in it's intention. Another reason
for the investigation of the political con-
dition of those islands generally is that
the High Commissioner had recently
made speech attacking the colonial
governing system, and thus he himself
would seem to have exceeded his func-
lions. The missionary charges represent
a further indication that the governing
state of the islands is not what it
should be.
Mr.. Seldom on being interviewed in
regard to the Fiji trouble, said that in
sydney there was great apathy in re-
gard to the matter The people did not
understand how closely the general ques-
ton lay to the Commonwealth of Aus
tralia, He could scarcely believe that
the Governor of Fiji could so to the
extreme course Indicated because the
act under which he is working is obso-
lete, and was passed at a time when
the conditions in Fiji were altogether
different from now. To apply it now to
a man like Mr.. Slade was absolutely
improper. He intended to send a re-
monstrance to the Colonial Office.
Dr. Brown, general secretary of the
Wesleyan Board of Missions, has re-
ceived a confirmation of the cable he
sent relative to the threatened deporta-
ton of a missionary from Fiji The adj
vices come from the chairman of the
Fiji Wesleyan district, and include copies
of the letters addressed to him by the
Colonial Secretary of Fiji. These con-
TAIN complaints against OIe VI lHe
sionares, and request his removal from
the district The accusation is that he
is actively engaged in political cam |
paign among the natives, with the os- |
tensible object of persuading them to |
entertain the proposals of federation |
with New Zealand. The matter will re-
ceive the earliest attention of the Mis- |
sion Board. The missionary in ques-
ton. DR.. Brown says. emphatically de- |
MES the truth of the statements made |
against him on the authority of a ma
tive witness. He asks that full in |
quiry be made.
AUCKLAND, Jan. lS.-One of the most |
destructive fires ever witnessed in the |
city of Auckland occurred on January 10. |
when three large buildings on Com |
merce street and Custom street were |
totally destroyed and their valuable |
contents burned to ashes, while consid-
cradle damage was done in the other two |
buildings. There may in the history OF
the city have been some more imposing |
confiagrations, but in respect to the de-
struction of property, and the value or
the contents swallowed up by the con-
Stunning flames. there is little doubt the
lire of January 10 must rank as among
the most disastrous that has ever vis-
tied Auckland. The properties affected
were those OF Messrs. Bond 4 Bell Com
merce street; the large bonded stores OF
NIessrs. l.. ID. Nathan & Co., corner of
Custom street and Commerce street, and
he adjoining property OF Messrs. q, w
owen 4 Co., Custom street other prop
rites. including Messrs. i. Macky
co.'s, on Commerce street, and Messrs.
W. s. Laurie & Co.'S, Custom street,
niffered a good deal of damage, but the
ire was practically confined TO the three
buildings first mentioned. which cover
ogether about l20 feet of frontage TO
Commerce street and about 100 feet 10
custom street. Messrs, l.. ID. Nathan a
'o's store being by far the largest Of
he three,