Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-28
CABLE TO FIJI ISLANDS
GROUP NOW IN ELECTRIC COM
MUNICATIoN WITH WORLD.
Might Have Been American Possess
sion-Commercial Enterprise
of Natives.

From the New York Tribune.
The last section Of the British Imperial
Pacific cable has just been connected with
the Fill Islands. thus bringing the natives
step nearer civilization and in closer
contact with the whole world. besides OPEN
ing a further and not unimportant sphere
for industrial development and commercial
enterprise.
Some fifty years ago and long before the
Fiji Islands were cedcd to Great Britain.
these islands might have become depend
ency or colony OF the United States. In the
year 1919 a considerable amount OF damage
was done to the property Of the then Amer
lean consul. After some time had been
spent in fruitless negotiations a heavy
claim was ultimately made by the United
States government against the leading FL
Jan chief, Thakombau. which he was who'll
ly unable to liquidate He was prepared.
however, at first to pledge or assign large
portion of the islands security; but the
Americans would not entertain this pro-
posal, for they. in common with others at
that time, saw little If any benefit in the
possession Of islands where cannibalism
was in vogue. Moreover. they were then
too remote from American influence and
had no immediate prospective commercial
value.
Sovereignty of England.
Having failed to come &c terms with the
United States government Chief Thakom-
bau,- acting mainly on the advice of mis-
sicrs ries. in the year 1853 off ercd the SOW
ereignty of the islands to Great Britain on
condition that he be allowed 20 retain his
rank as chief and that his debt to the Unit
ell States government be paid AS 4 seton
10 the payment he agreed to assign If re-
Qufred, to the British governm art the own
ership in fee simple of 100000 ac-as nf land.
Great Britain, like the .ini.ed States, saw
| no tempting reason for accepting the pro-
posal beyond. perhaps. The possession Of
the Group Of islands for strStasicil pur-
poses AS a speculation, however, the Brit
ISL government commissioned Col. Smythe
20 inquire into the prospects and 'ai yan-
| tages of utilizing them as naval and coal
Ing stations and Incidentally for cotton
growing
On Col Smythe's advice the offer was re-
| jected in 1862 Shortly after this, and in
consequence OF the American war, cotton
planting received a considerable impetus
| there and the consequent growth OF
white population. In 1S6S an Australian
company was formed with the object OF
taking over the United States government
debt on the terms offered to Great Britain,
but cession to the latter country was again
| urged, and on the advice of Sir Hercules
Robinson. then governor of New South
Wales the offer of sovereignty was ac-
cepted by the British government in Octo-
| Der. 1874.
Country Undeveloped.
Nothing has yet been done to develop
the country. At present the whole group
remains in purely agricultural state AL
together there are about two hundred and
| fifty misunderstanding the group-compris-
ing some Seventy-five hundred square miles.
but eighty (mainly islets) still uninhab-
tied. The two largest islands are Viii Lew,
containing four thousand square miles. and
Wanna Levu, comprising twenty-five hum
dred square miles. The most southern
Observation-Disclosures twenty-five miles
long. and, though narrow. is well watered,
has a good harbor and is exceedingly pic
turesque and interesting. and particularly
civilized.
The quaint old capital of Levuka on the
Island of Ovalan, was replaced by trans
terrence to Suva. on the south coast, where
there are fine harbor and large eXpanse
of country. The islands abound in excel
lent harbors and have plenty of good water;
| the soil is rich and the climate fairly
healthy. The sanitation of the larger
| islands is being rapidly and extensively i'm
| proved by rigid supervision. strict regula-
tons and an Introduction of an ample water
supply to all the villages.
The mineral wealth of the islands is be-
lfeved to be great, and there are strong
reasons and evidence for stating that in
future gold will be found in quantities and
also large coal deposits in Viii Lew
considerable amount Of iron ore has been
found already, well as silver chloride
antimony and manganese