FIJI.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 146, 20 November 1874, Page 3

FIJI.

[Written Especially for the Globe.] 111. The Chief Justice arrived in Fiji in May, 1872, about the same time as Mr Woods, who had been for some months in Australia, attempting to negotiate a loan of £25,000, with but partial success. He had been absent for a longer period than had been intended, and as the time drew near for the second session of Parliament, without any signs of the Premier, his enemies did not scruple to say that Fiji had seen the last of him. But his arrival with apparently satisfactory news about “ the loan,” sent Treasury notes, which had been as low as forty per cent discount, to the great discomfort of the unhappy civil servants, up again in the market, and partially restored public confidence. The personnel of the Cabinet had been modified considerably during the absence of the Prime Minister. Mr Burt, who had been left at the head of the Executive, had resigned, and the remaining Ministers, Messrs Hennings and Smith, were only waiting Mr Woods’ return to do the same. These two gentlemen, who were the leading merchants in Levuka, had been of very considerable assistance to the Government, not only by their adhesion to it as Ministers, but by supplying it with stores, when Treasury notes were looked on with abhorrence by all the storekeepers on the beach. Intellectually Mr Burt was, beyond question, the ablest man the Government had ; but his enemies had made such unremitting use of the circumstances attending his departure from Sydney, as to cover his name with odium, and cause the whole Government to suffer sensible damage from his connection with it. The cry of “ Out with Burt!” had become so incessant, and so apparently justifiable, that, though he had too much courage ever to show the slightest signs of quailing before the mob, he was probably not sorry to seize the opportunity of a difference with his colleagues, for sending in bis resignation to the King. Mr Burt’s friends have always'maintained that his collapse in Sydney had not been so much his -own fault as owing to his connection with a large commercial house which came to grief ■abous this time, and which involved in its fall others who had, unfortunately for 'themselves, been connected with it. It is at all events certain, that unless he had been able to show that the true state of the case was very different to what had been so commonly rumoured, he would not have been ■entrusted by Sir Hercules Robinson with an ■office under the British Grown. Our latest news from Fiji informs us, that Mr Burt has been appointed Crown legal adviser, equivalent to continuing him in the post he held at the time of the annexation, that of Attoruey■General. We fancy that, viewing this, it will be admitted that the charges against -him must have been monstrously exaggerated. His successor in office was a man of very 'different stamp. For some time past the name Of Mr J. B. Thurston had been brought [prominently before the public as that of one who ought : .t® ’oe induced to take affairs in band, and who was capable of becoming the saviour of the State. His career has been 'quite as diversified as that of any other Fijan dignitary. His first appearance in Fiji was as mate of the barque Prince of Wales, a vessel trading among the South Sea Islands. His second appearance was as a travelling photograper, which, we believe, he did not find a very profitable employment, as we hear of him next as in charge of a ketch belonging to the Wesleyan Mission, which billet, however, he soon quitted, the missionary not approving of his thrashing a refactory boy, one of the crew, who probably well deserved it; the rev Mr Tait, however, considered that his employe, had no business to take the law into his own hands. The consequence of the disagreement was, by Mr Thurston’s own account, that he threw up the place; while the other, side assert that he was simply discharged. The then British Consul for Fiji and Tonga was Captain Jones, now Consul-General at Tauris in Persia. He was a man of energetic character and considerable scientific acquirements; also of a very hot temper, as those found to their cost who tried to trifle with him. He formed the project of crossing right through the interior of Viti Levu, where no white man had as yet set foot. On bis making known that he wished for volunteers to accompany him, Mr Thurston made his appearance, and joined the party in their perilous journey, which was fortunately without any accident. From ■this time Mr Thurton’s rise in the world may he dated. On their return to Levuka, • Captain Jones took him into his service, as • consular clerk, and, when he left Fiji in .1869, left Mr Thurston in charge as Acting- ■ Consul. This office Mr Thurston held for -about two years, on the whole fulfilling its •duties to the public’s satisfaction, though 'bis native vulgarity occasionally cropped nip, in a way inexpressibly ludicrous to the more educated portion of society. His former captain testified his comical surprise, on coming again to Fiji and finding his quondam mate, British Consul, and his cook, consular clerk ! Mr Thurston never lost an opportunity, when a British man-of-war came, of taking a cruise to some distant part of Fiji, to inquire into some dispute, of

which there were always plenty occurring to give him a plausible pretext; knowing well the respect with which the natives look upon a gold laced cap, and how useful his “ little brief authority” might be made, towards securing him an influential position in the future; towards which end he always cultivated an air of as imposing dignity as his short stature would admit of. The amusing writers in the Fiji Times have bestowed upon him the appropriate nickname of Mr J. B. Turveydrop, which at once recommended itself to the public. He however administered the affairs of the office with sufficient impartiality and skill to cause people under the peculiar regime of Air March, to attribute more virtues to his predecessors than they had ever thought of crediting him with at the time. While Mr March was insulting everybody, and writing wild despatches homo, in which he described the white population of Fiji, as the vilest horde of miscreants ever Consul had to deal with, the of Fiji was placidly cultivating his vegetables on Taviuni (where his kitchen garden prospered much more than his cotton), and gently “ blowing” to the natives about the influence he possessed with the British authorities at home. It must be said, to Mr Thurston’s honour that he invariably treated natives, both Fijian and imported, with the greatest kindness and humanity, without ever exhibiting that overhearing pride of race which English settlers are to unhappily wont to show. On the occasion of a commission being sent from Levuka to inquire into the condition ol Polynesian labourers on Taviuni, the only plantations, among scores, where they reported the natives to be properly treated, and provided with food, were those of Mr Thurston, and Mr Peckhara an American ; and since his taking office, whatever may have been his behaviour towards the European settlers, it cannot be denied that he has striven to do whatever he could uo benefit the natives of the land. And he has certainly overreached Sir Hercules Robinson, in the wording of the clause in the cession treaty, regarding the laud that is to become the property of the Crown ; on which topic we may dwell some other time. It was not till overtures had been made and renewed four or five times, that Mr Thurston’s apparent reluctance was overcome, and not till a special invitation was sent him, signed by the King, did he consent to come down to Levuka. One condition he stipulated upon, that Mr Burt should have left the Cabinet. “ Respectability” was the cry which had brought him so suddenly into favour ; the public, tired of seeing themselves denounced abroad as living under the rule of adventurers, turned eagerly to greet one who could bring such a respectable character from his former place. The Fiji Times declared, “ We do not deny the ability Ministers have shown, but that ability has led us to our ruin ; it is respectability we are so painfully in need of among our authorities.” They obtained their wish, and soon afterwards, alas ! was the Fiji Times lamenting that they were groaning undera surfeit of that respectability which they had invoked. It was not a very dignified position to put a King in, to compel him to send a letter beseeching some one to come and join his Ministry ; and it is perhaps to be doubted if Mr Thurston really gained anything in dignity by insisting on this farce. He must have been fully aware that Thakombau’s only share in it was signing the letter ; for it was no spontaneous idea of the old King’s to invite down one who had been in many cases his enemy during his term of office. Ostensibly, however, in compliance with the pressing invitation of the King, Mr Thurston left his Penates in Taviuni to take the “ seals ” of Chief Secretary, which Mr Burt had resigned, and he blandly assured his friends in Levuka, that he only held them on condition of being the next Premier, on the resignatioon of the Miniotry, which was to take place on Mr Woods’ return, and the King’s arrival in Levuka to open Parliament. Mr Woods returned the same week that the session was to commence ; the King arrived in Levuka ; Parliament was opened, and the House impatiently waited while the Ministers repaired to the King’s residence to tender their resignations, and to have the new Ministry formed under the expected presidency of Mr Thurston. The Ministers went—-they returned—to announce that his Majesty had been graciously pleased to accept the resignation of Mr Wood’s Cabinet, and that he had entrusted the duty of forming a new one to Mr Woods! Great was the general stupefaction.