A LETTER FROM FIJI.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 185, 13 August 1901, Page 2

A LETTER FROM FIJI.

VIEWS OF A NEW ZEALAND TRAVELLER.

Mr Robert Baxe.ndell, tho popular representative of the Auckland firm of Messrs Bycroft and Co., writing to a gentleman in Gisborne from Suva, Fiji, under date of August Ist, states There is not much news I can writo about from these parts. The Governor, Sir G. O’Brion, has loft for homo, after a four years’ stay, and tho general opinion hero is that he has done more for the betterment of the colony during that period than has been done for 20 years previously. Before leaving tho colony the natives presented him with a whale’s tooth, which is lookod upon as the very highest honor to receive, and in the past only a favored few have boon recipients of this (to tho native Fijian) valuable present, and wc may gauge from that the esteem in which ho was held. The public are very jealous of New Zealand, and strongly resent tho interference of Mr Seddon, but seem very pleased to see that he met his match for once in the person of Sir George. The colony seems to be very prosperous, notwithstanding the mode of Government. Not being a colonist myself, I must frankly confess that I do not understand their ways. Being desirous of paying my respects to the highest in the land a fow days ago, I enquired if the Governor was at homo. I was told he had been recalled. I then asked if I could see tho Colonial Secretary, but iearnt that he was absent from tho colony. Next I sought tho

Chief Justice, but he was away on leave. In despair I endeavored to find the AttorneyGeneral, but was told that he had been compelled to resign his commision, owing to some difference, which seemed to be a virulent form of red tape. The fact of the Government of a colony being conducted without the assistance of the four highest officials struck me as somewhat peculiar, and I therefore set about to discover the way in which the colony is governed, with this result The Acting Governor is tho Assistant Colonial Secretary, Colonial Secretary is the Assistant Colonial Secretary ; the Assistant Colonial Secretary is the Native Commis- I sioner* the Acting Chief Justice is the Collector of Customs, the Acting AttorneyGeneral is a member of the Bar, the Registrar of Titles is the Acting AttorneyGeneral, the Chief Police Magistrate is tho Registrar of tho Supremo Court, the Native Commissioner is the Magistrate for the ltewa district, the Collector of Customs is a Clerk in the Customs house. I have no doubt, but am certain that I could multiply these instances ad infill., but it would only be a waste of good space. I mention these matters because I have done such a deal of running round after I unfindablo officials, that such a management of affairs seems to me nothing short of a farce.

Regarding sporting matters, Fiji seems to still hold its own with credit. The ■Suva Cricket Eleven badly defeated the strongest fifteen of the warship Pylades last week, but the tars were too good for the Suva Rifle Club on the following day. Tennis is in full swing, and a tournament commences shortly, which promises to be very interesting. The cable steamer Britannia arrived in the harbor from Auckland, via Norfolk Island, on Monday morning, the 29th. After a short stay here, she proceeds to Fanning Island, thence about 100 miles to the northward, and finally to Honolulu, where her work finishes. The weather is beautiful, and the country is looking well,'notwithstanding' the fact that it is over two months since rain fell. The health of the people is also very good, there being very few eases of sickness, and as one prominent citizen here told me, a funeral in Suva is a nine days 1 wonaer, and creates quite a sensation.