CAKOBAU IN SYDNEY

Globe, Volume II, Issue 176, 31 December 1874, Page 3

CAKOBAU IN SYDNEY

The Sydney Morning Herald, Ist December, says : —"As our readers are aware, the ex-King of Fiji, Cakobau, arrived in Sydney, in H.M.S. Dido, on Sunday, together with his son Ratu Joseph, for the purpose of paying a visit to his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson. Ratu Timothy, who had been for some weeks a guest of his Excellency, at once went on board the Dido to see his father, and remained there all night. Yesterday morning the party landed at the Government jetty, near Fort Macquarie, having left the Dido in his Excellency's barge, which was sent specially to convey them. As the barge left the ship's side, the Dido's yards were manned by the seamen, but no salute was fired. There was a large concourse of people assembled at or near the jetty to receive the distinguished visitor, who was received and welcomed on landing by his Excellency himself. There were also present Captain St John, the Hon Hely Hutchinson, Commodore Goodenough, Colonel Richardson, Major Airey, Captain Chapman, Mr lnnes, and a number of other gentlemen. Mr Fosbery was on the spot with a party of polioe, and there was also a detachment of the permanent artillery, who presented arms at the ex King as he landed. His Excellency then conducted his guests to Government House, where they will remain during their stay in Sydney. In the afternoon Sir Hercules Robinson and Captain St John, accompanied by ex-King Cakobau and his two sous, Ratu Timothy and Ratu Joseph Celua, paid a visit to the Post-office, where they were received by the Uou the Premier (Mr Parkes) and the Hon Saul Samuel, C.M.G. The party were first of all shown into the mail branch of the Post-office, wh ere they saw the mails being made up and despatched. They then passed into the corresponding and secretary's branches, and from thence into the Post-master-General's room, where refreshments had been hospitably provided by the Hon Saul Samuel. In the telegraphic room Cakobau sent some messages to Mr Todd, C.M.G., Postmaster-General and Superintendent of Telegraphs at Adelaide. The first msssage transmitted was to inquire the state of the weather, and an answer was received almost instantaneously, the line being kept clear for the purpose. He then held a conversation with Mr Todd by means of the telegraph, the instrument being worked by Mr Cracknell. In reply Mr Todd sent a complimentary message, expressing his gratification at being able to converse with his Royal Highness, and afterwards a private message was sent to England by Sir Hercules Robinson. The ex-King and those with him examined the working of the telegraphic apparatus and the pneumatic tubes, and Cakobau expressed himself, by means of his interpreter, Mr Milne, highly delighted at everything he saw. He appeared to be particularly astonished at the manner in which the gas was lit, and the way in which the flame was increased and decreased by means of the tap attached to the gas-pipe. He was likewise very much pleased at the working of the lift for carrying papers between the corresponding record branches of the Post office. The visitors were also shown the clock-room, and the manner in which the numbers indicating the hours revolve and the way in which the clock is self-illuminat-ing by means of its clever mechanism. After admiring the view from the roof for some fifteen or twenty minutes, the party proceeded downstairs to the workshop, where the telegraphic instruments are refitted and repaired. Whilst in this room a most amusing incident occurred. Mr Cracknell, having procured a knife, presented it to the ex-King for inspection, and he, after having satisfied himself that there was nothing extraordinary about it, handed it back again to Mr Cracknell, who magnetised it, and again offered it to Cakobau, at the same time requesting him to pick up some nails and iron filings with it, which he did. The exKing was much curprised at the iron

filings becoming attached to the blade of the knife, and made some ejaculations in his Fijian tongue, which were of course only understood by his two sons and the interpreter. Cakobau was conveyed to the Postoffice in his Excellency's carnage, being accompanied by Captain St John and Mr Milne. The distinguished visitors left the building about half-past five, by which time a great crowd had assembled in front of the Post-office to witness their departure.