Year: 1870

jan chiefs and the white settlers would not place the
protecting power any risk Of being involved in the
political complications and inter-island which
would probably arise of assumption of resOlute
sovereignty.


No. 4.


We will now venture upon a few suggestions as to
the kind of rule which might think. be established
with British aid in the Fjan Archipelago, without
any abandonment of those principles of economy, or
that Ito coin phrase for the occason anti national
extension policy to which the Cabinet of St. James
seems pledged. These suggestions. we must premise.
necessarily of very general character and could
probably be modified with advantage by abler heads
and hands than ours-but they may serve bases
for deliberstion. 10


The shape which, we think, such rule should take,
is that of a federal administration under British
guidance and protection.


1t has been already shown that there is general
sovereignty either de factor de ge in this archi-
peago also that there can be little or hope of
seeing any such sovereignty established uuless by
sstance-and very strong and effective assistance too
from without. King Thakombau would. no doubt,
be willing enough to become "Tui Viti' king of
Fiji in reality, he in name, and would
perhaps be disposed to make large concessions
to any power which would place him-and maintain
HMM that position. But however easy this might
seem TO e first sight could not be done without
much trouble and bloodshed The other ruling chiefs
and their peoples might submit for time, but their
submission would be only for time. There would,
however, be little difficulty in forming
federation of these ruling chiefs with the King Bau
at its head; for although his general sovereignty be
not admitted, his superiority and right of precedence
is indisputable To organise such confederation,
therefore, should, we submit, he the first step.


That something of the kind has been already at
tempted and that the attempt did succeed, will af
ford no argument against this mode of proceeding.
Circumstances have changed since then, and
changing almost daily. And there was, that
sion, no such external assistance, may now, from
some quarter or other be pretty confidently reckoned
| upon.


Some duly authorised officers of the protecting
power should reside at the head quarters of the
federation. The supreme executive administration
should be vested in a council consisting either of the
ruling chiefs themselves, or of persons whom they
might appoint their representatives, assisted and
advised by the principal officer officers of the pro-
tectng power Some officer officers, in conjunction
with of the Fian chiefs, should be the Ministers
of this central government.


The rule of the native chiefs over their own do
minions and peoples should be left untouched, sub
ject, however. to the supremacy of the central
thOrity in all matters affecting the general welfare
Such cessions should if possible be obtained of
of the islands districts which occupied-whOly
or cheay-by white settlers, would admit Of local
governments being formed therein and therefore, sub
ject the control of the federal authority. Ifa
inal suzerany remained in any of the native chiefs
respected these locally governed domains, it would
matter but ttle-t would sit lightly upon them
did the suzerainty of the Bornean Sultan the Raah
of Sarawak. The local governments thus established
should be represented in the central federal


central tribunal should be established, in which
both native and foreign interests should be epresen
ted and guarded. This tribunal should have supreme
jurisdiction in all matters civil and criminal. When
other tribunals of minor authority were established
las they be in time in various parts of the arch
ipelago the central tribunal would become more of
court of appeal and its functions might be modified
butat present it would doubtless suffice for all pur-
poses, particularly if of its members
were to make an occasional circuit" This tribunal
should not interfere between the Fiian chiefs and
their subjects but should nevertheless deal with such
matters of dispute between the chiefs themselves
might if not so dealt with lead to intertribal wars
As to all matters-civil or crimina-in which either
white settlers alone white and Fijian jointly
were concerned its jurisdiction should be full and ab
soiute. Such jurisdiction should be exercised in the
name of and should be supported by, the supreme
central authority-the Fijian Confederation.


Subordinate officers should be appointed, and, if
necessary, small force should be organised for the
support of the federal government, the maintenance
of its supremacy throughout the whole archipelago
and tine enforcement of awards by the central trib
unal, should any such awards be resisted These
officers and this force should be dependent in any
way upon any of the coniederated cheftans or gov
ernmens but only upon the federal council in its col
lective capacity The action of such officers and force
should be strictly regulated by the orders of the
council, given through duly appointed andresponsi-
bic functionary and should in all be subject as
in civilized countries the governing power of the
law For, towards the maintenance of the federal
government of the central tribunal and of the officers
and force which might be necessary to support the
authority of such government and tribunal, there
should be light assessment Of the whole archi-
pelago. The contributions might be in money or in
kind, as might be found most convenient. They
should be fixed by the federal council but collected by
tho local authorities. Arrangements could be very
easily made for dsposing of contributions in kind
to render them equivalent to payments in cash.
There might, too, be such cessons or purchases of
land with view to settlement and such an applica-
ton of parts of the proceeds of these acquisitions
investments to public purposes would render it
unnecessary to require contributions towards the