AFFAIRS IN FIJI.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 173, 2 August 1901, Page 2

AFFAIRS IN FIJI.

A good deal of interest is being taken in tbe friction that has occurred between Governor O’Brien, of Fiji, and the Premier of New Zealand. Governor O’Brien clearly intends that Mr Seddon’s wishes shall not be gratified,

The following is the full test of the Ordinance passed in Fiji:—“ Any : person who shall cause, or attempt to 1 cause, any Fijian to be disaffected ! towards the Government, or who shall ] induce, or attempt to induce, any Fijian to take any action having for its object the subversion or alteration of the present form of government, shall be guilty of an offence under this Ordinance, and shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding six months.” In reply to communications from Mr Seddon, Mr Chamberlain has stated that the Ordinance will be revoked if it is what it is represented to be.. Governor O’Brien is now on his way to England, and no doubt more will soon be heard of the matter. In his remarks on the subject, Mr Seddon said that the ordinance was extraordinary, infringed liberty of speech, and was subversive of the liberty of the English and Indian subjects in Fiji, for any person speaking to a Fijian now in respect to change of system of government was liable to be sent to gaol. And what mado his astonishment greater was a letter received from the Secretary of State, which he had promised to lay on the table later on. In that communication the Secretary of State said that no constitutional change should take place without the Fijians being consulted. ; as they had ceded their lands to the Crown, but not by roason of conquest, their wishes must be consulted. And when the Secretary of State held that view, it was a strange thing that the Government should pass an ordinance at twmity-four hours’ notice—subversive of their Standing Orders, which enacted that there should be three days’ notice—that any one who spoke to Fijians on the question was to have six mouths’ imprisonment. He would be a brave man now who spoke to a Fijian on federation with Australia or New Zealand, or in respect to self-government. But as it affected this colony and the Parliament of Now Zealand, and as this colony had been previously insulted by what had been said by His Excellency Governor O’Brien, tlie matter could not be allowed to rest where it was, and the passing of the ordinance was done to intimidate settlers, and Australia and New Zealand. Mr Seddon is ovidontly taking Governor O’Brien’s tactics much to heart, but tho people generally will bo more inclined to take the thing lightly,. and smile at the petty quarrol between those two gentlemen, each a political giant on i his own little field. Mr Seddon con- ' aiders the outlook seriou3 in the extreme ; the Governor, he considers, has now reaped the whirlwind which he himself has sown.

The schooner Waiapu is at present loading timber in Mercury Bay. The monthly meeting of tho Liberal Association takes place to-night. A prohibition case comes on for hearing at tho Police Court this morning. A well-known Maori named Karauria will again come boforo the Court this morning.

A new addition to the Telephone Exchange is Mr J. Wallace’s residence, No. 180, Kaiti.

The'monthly meeting of the Cook County Liberal Association will be held this evening. Mr James McKee has a special advertisement in this issue, drawing attention to a number of new shipments. Qaptain Edwin telegraphed yesterday : “ West to south-west and south gale ; glass rise; good sea ; heavy off" shore ; weather cold.”

By our shipping telegrams it will bo seen that the To Anau had a very long trip to Auckland, not having reached that port until 7.15 last night. Several first-class sheep dogs, and a pair of buggy horses will be sold on account of Mr A. Wethered, by Messrs Wyllie and Mason to-morrow. The Weka arrives this morning from Napier with a cargo of household coal for Messrs Clayton Bros., and tho Fanny is to leave to-day with more coal for tho firm. The committee of tho Poultry Fanciers’ Club were busily engaged at the Theatre Royal last evening preparing for their annual Show, which opens this afternoon, and will be continued to-morrow. The Show promises to be the most successful yet held by the Club. Attention is directed to several additions to Messrs AYylile and Mason’s auction advertisement of Mr A. Wethored’s sale of household effects. Tho sale presents an excellent opportunity to persons furnishing. “ Grumbler ” writes: 11 Sir, —Someone has given your contemporary tho startling news that there is at present a good stream of water running at Waihirere. If Councillors take a walk round Customhouse street (Waikanae), they will find there is a fairly good supply running there.”

The series of articles by Mr W. Dougla 8 Lysnar on the subject of co-operative dairying will conclude in Friday’s issue of tiro Times. The articles have created so much interest that we understand it is the intention of some of the settlois to have them put together in pamphlet form.

A meeting of tho Star of New Zealand

Ladies’ Bechabito Tent was held last evening, Sister Georgeson, C.R., presiding. Bros, Jfasmith, Georgeson, and Kirk were elected trustees of the Tent, and Bros. Georgeson and Kirk were elected auditors. The balance-sheet of the opening social, which was very favorable, was presented and adopted. It was decided to admit members of the Gisborne Tent as honorary members. Five new members were proposed. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday a plaim for £25 commission on the sale of

land was preferred by A. Skillicorn, of Gisborne, against a native named lopa To Hau. Mr Jones,' who appeared for the plaintiff, said that the property in question was sold for .£BOO. The only reason put forth why the commission was not paid was that.plaintiff had not carried out the alleged agreement to get £IOOO for tho property. Evidence was given by the plaintiff, Thomas Ernest Evans, sheepfarmer, E. J. Chrisp, and D. M. Orr. Mr Nolan, who appeared for the defence, said his client contended he never authorised defendant to act as his agent. He did not know anything about it till he came to him with Evans.. Defendant gave Evans a price as actual buyer himself. lopa Te Hau made a statement in defence, and counsel having addressed the Court, His Worship said iie was perfectly satisfied that the property was placed in plaintiff’s hands as an agent, that it was sold by him, and that he was entitled to bis commission, J*udgment was given for the amount claimed and costs, £9 2s.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr Barton, S.M., the following civil cases were disposed of .-—Common, Shelton and Co. v. Wi Pore (Mr DeLautour for plaintiff) : Judgment for plaintiff for £7 14s 9d, costs 28s 6d.—A. M. Lewis

v. Tame Korin, claim £7 19s 8d (Mr Jones for plaintiff) ; Judgment for plaintiff, costs £3 6s 6d.—A. VI. Lewis v. Ei-uera Hokena, claim £4 16s (Mr Jones for plaintiff) ; Judgment for plaintiff, costs £1 7s. —Commissioner of Taxes v. Dennis Malone, claim £1 17s : Judgment for plaintiff, costs 9s. Defendant appeared to dispute the claim, but had not complied with technicalities.—Same v. Pirnia Mills, claim £22 13s : Judgment for plaintiff, costs 02s.—Snmd v. John MuldooD, claim 16s : judgment for plain-

tiff, costs Bs.—Same v. John 'Wall, claim £1 6s 4d : Judgment for plaintiff, cost 3 14s.—Same v. F. Smith and T. Trumpcr, claim £2 '2s 4d : Judgment for plaintiff, costs £1 3s.—J. McKee v. C. Tborsen, judgment summons (Mr G. Lysnar for plaintiff) : Order made for immediate payment and £1 7s 7d costs, in default two days’ imprisonment,

Sir Joseph Ward aud Sir John McKenzie have (says a Southern paper) to pay a pretty peuuy in fees for their K.C.M.G.ships, and it is safe to say that there will not be much change for them out of £lO3. The Crown office gets fees from each newly-created Knight t~l.filing £59 10s, the Home Office demands a modest £7 13s 6d, the patent stamp cost L3O, tho warrant stamp co,t 10s, tho doequet stamp the nimble florin. So that they are not called Sir Joseph and Sir John for nothing. The Auckland Star’s London correspondent states :—Tho Daily Mail representatives would have us believe they are übiquitous. They gave us tho most audacious accounts of tho scenes at Queen i Victoria’s death bed as if Death himself were a special correspondent of tho ha’penny haggis. Now the Now Zealand correspondent professes to know what transpires in the Duchess’ boudoir, for he declares that after the Rotorua revels “ when H.R.H. returned to hor room at the hotel she donned tho Maori mats, stuck feathers in her hair and imitated splendidly the peculiar Maori style of gesture, performing a little haka on her own account.” I trust the Duchess’s haka was a Bowdlerisod rendering !

Kipling, says Colonel Mackay, who has returned to Sydney from South Africa, hopes to come out to Australia before very long, as he wants to have a thorough look at it and its people. Ho professes to be very much ashamed of having written “ The Absent-minded Beggar,” but as it has brought .£120,000 to aid tho object for which it was written, I think lie may be forgiven. Strange to say, he and Sir Arthur Sullivan met for the first time when the hitter undertook to write the music for Kipling’s verses. He told mo that one of his most painful experiences was the fact that every boy who passed his house, and every tradesman who brought anything to it, whistled “ The Absent-minded Beggar ” as a delicato compliment to its author.

Those persons who endeavored to roach the Kaiti wharf last eve ling for tho purpose of rendering assistance to a drowning man were loud in their denunciation of the state of the road to tho Freezing Works. Many who started for tho wharf were compelled to turn back on account of tho soa of mud. A local medico, who bravely undertook to reach tho wharf, had a very rough passage, and on more than ono occasion addressed the Times’ representative in tho following terms : “ Look out 1 Do not come on this side ; lam up to my nook.” We do not know whether tho Harbor Board and Borough Council look upon this undesirable condition of things in tho light of a good joke, but wo certainly think that they should see that this road is metalled before they permit heavy traffic from the beach, which is the'main cause of the road being in its present state. The Harbor Board might surely charge a royalty on tho metal carted from tho beach, and devote tho proceeds towards keeping the road in order. If passengers were landed on tho breakwater at tho present time, as was the case last year, they would not gain a very favorable impression of Gisborne. Messrs Barker and DoLautour, land, loan, and estate agents, have an advertisement in this issue to which attention is directed. Both members of the firm have an intimate acquaintance with tho East

Coast and inland districts, and all business entrusted to them will bo carried through at most favourable rates. Special attention will be given to tho requirements of persons desirous of settling upon Crown or Native lands. Tho Waste Lands Board will be attended in the interests of any settlors. Information will be at all times obtainable at the firm’s office, without charge, as to the extent, loca-

tion, and character of all lands available for settlement in the district. A special feature of their business will be tho preparation of plans and lithograph sheets for the purpose of sub-divisional

sales. Settlers in the inland districts can make use of the agoncy for the letting of bush contracts. As it is of the greatest importance to station-holders and farmers, having to contend with fluctuating markets, always to know their true position, tho firm are prepared to keep all station and farm accounts on the most improved methods of book-keeping, and to furnish annual or half-yearly profit and loss accounts. They have arranged to act for tho New Zealand Government Insurance Department, and will be prepared, at onco, to cover the inevitable and unforeseen risk of accidents to employees, the liability for which is now imposed upon all employers of labor. Fire, marine, and life insurance is also undertaken. As strangers to our district are often at a disadvantage through doubts as to the title of the lands offered to them for sale, Messrs Barker aud DcLautour’s constituents will have the benefit of Mr C. A. DeLautour’s long experience in Poverty Bay in advising as to all titles of properties placed with them for sale or lease. Roman Catholic Church Services, Sunday next—Uisborne, Mass 8 and 11 a.m., Vespers 7 p.m ; Makauri, Mass 0 a.m.; Patutahi, Mass 11 a.m.—Rev. W. J. O’Connor.