The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1864.

Evening Star, Issue 3466, 1 April 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1864.

The telegram from Fiji telling of the difficulties in the way of annexation raised by the King and his chiefs, is only what might reasonably have been anticipated. However desirable annexation may be on commercial considerations, and for the sake of those of our countrymen who Lave invested money there, should the report prove correct, the Native opposition will, in all probability, defeat the project. The British Government has had enough to deal with of unsanctioned colonization in New Zealand, without again rushing into a course of procedure that can only be successful at present through a war with the NatSies, that could have no other result than bringing about the very evils the colonists wish to avoid. The real difficulty that many of the settlers in Fiji have to contend with is the insecurity of their landed possessions. In the description of the “ Fiji Islands and the Fijians,” in ‘Ail Bound the World,’ is the following passage:— It appears that owing principally to the delay in the English Government making up its mind whether it will take possession of these islands or not, the social relationship between the settlers and the Natives ia assuming a very unpleasant aspect. This is caused by many of the chiefs having sold land to the white men without sufficient authority from the real owners; who unfortunately are, in most cases, but humble members of the tribe. Wb shall in time, probably, see the counterpart in, the scenes in the Fijia which were enacted in the early history of New Zealand, if care be not soon taken to prevent it. The seeds of future wars and rebellions are sown in these interminable land disputes, and in this instance they spring from the fact that there is no settled form of government to guide and regulate the sales. The English Government should, in justice to the Natives, give an early expression of their long expected intention, and thus nip in the bud the cUbcontent which is now shewing itself between the aborigines and the settlers. Delay will only add to the evil, and cannot possibly do good to anyone. This is the -English idea of the matter, and probably will be shared by many who think it nothing wrong to import forced labor, or to set at defiance the fixed manners and customs of uncivilized tribes. The settlers went to Fiji for their own special benefit, they made bargains without asking the Government of Great Britain either for permission or advice, and now when they find themselves in a difficulty brought about by their own imprudence, they seek to be supported in their position by British money and British guns and bayonets. We should have felt more sympathy for them had they shown any disposition to help themselves. They had the opportunity of having the control of the Government of Fiji in their own hands. They had influence sufficient to mark out a Constitution, agreed to by King and people ; and, however defective, it was the interest of all to have supported the Government, as even an incomplete form of Government is better than anarchy. But they could not agree, Some envied those in power, some derided them, the majority threw impediments in their way. It was the interest of all the whites that a strong Government should be established, and

that they should set aa example to the Natives of obedience to it, and of cheerful payment of the light taxes that were required for necessary expenses : to nurture in every possible way the growth of settled institutions. The King was evidently willing to be guided by a class of men whose mental superiority he readily acknowledged. No matter through what motive he sought their help. Even if it were merely to consolidate his power and secure himself in his supre macy as Monarch over all othei chiefs, it was equally their interest ti support him, as it was his to have theii support. With it he could rule ; with > his hblp thtty We're domphratiVeJy Bfccfar'tf. ]

But in this, as in all similar cases, there were some settlers who, from political, some from pecuniary motives, some from ignorance and wrong headedness, thwarted those well meant attempts at government. We have had some of the refractory ones in Dunedin, whose doctrine was non-payment of taxes and absolute freedom from State control on their own estates. Those are the rowdy elements with which the Fijian Government has to deal, and those are they who are endeavoring to force King Thakombau to become a vassal of Great Britain. When first New Zealand was colonised, Sir Everard Home visited Nelson with H.M.S. North Star soon after the massacre of Wairau. He reported to the Home Government that “ a force was wanted, not to repel the attacks of the Natives, but to restrain and keep in subjection the English laborers brought over by the New Zealand Company ; who (said he), I believe, have been in open re bellion against their employers more than once.” Changing the word “laborers ” into settlers, pretty much might be said of many of the planters in Fiji. Taking possession of the island in the face of the refusal by the King and chiefs to be annexed, would mean a war, which the civilised world would condemn, and upon which the English government would scarcely feel justified in entering. Already the King has learnt enough of the value of organisation to devise means to rule his own natural subjects, and scattered over the islands as the planters are, they would be powerless to resist aggression. Being, therefore, dependent upon their good behaviour, for security, it is just possible that the determination of King Thakombau and his Chiefs may lead to greater unity of purpose than hitherto amongst the planters, and if so, a Native

government under British protection is as possible as in the Sandwich Islands. [We are glad to find from to-day’s telegrams that the prospects of Fiji are better than we anticipated when our leader was written.]