OPENING OF THE FIJIAN PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 2923, 2 July 1872, Page 3

OPENING OF THE FIJIAN PARLIAMENT.

The second Parliament of Fiji opened on May 22, The King left his house at 2.30 p.m., in his State barge, and proceeded to Smith’s wharf, where he was received by a guard of honor, consisting of 30 well-drilled active troops, who presented arms as he approached. A royal salute of 21 guns was fired from the battery at the Government Buildings. The House was densely crowded, a goodly number of elegantly-attired and lovely ladies making the scene quite gay. His Majesty took his seat on the Speaker’s throne, having on his right the Chief Justice, in full robes of scarlet silk, and ermine ; on his left the Speaker, Mr Justice Forwoed, also in full robes, and Justice Marika Were- also seated near the King, Cakoban in his speech said: “Official information h,as just reached me that R.B.M. Government has directed its representative to recognise my Government de facto, and I make no doubt a perfect recognition will follow at no very distant date. You are aware that other great Powers have long since recognised my Government, and that with one of them a treaty of mutual friendship and commerce has been entered into. The incoming mail will doubtless bring authentic tidings of the Fiji Loan being floa' ed on satisfactory terms. In accordance with the provisions of a bill, which has been drafted by eminent lawyers in the neighboring coloni s of Great Britain, a proposal for the establishment of a National Bank wdll be submitted to your consideration. The capital will be a quarter of a million sterling, and banking business will be in itiated within four months of the bill passing your honourable House.”