THE FIJI ISLANDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 122, 20 June 1868, Page 5

THE FIJI ISLANDS.

The steamship Albion, that sailed recently from Sydney for Fiji and Japan, had eighty passengers on board for King Thukombau’s territory, and so numerous were the application for berths that the owners of the ship regretted they had pot despatched her for Fiji alone, making Melbourne the port of departure. There seems to be very general curiosity on the subject of those islands both here and in New South Wales, and most of the Albion’s passengers are understood to have gone hither with a view to ascertain the capabilities of the islands in the way of trade or as a field for settlement. Two of these, Messrs. Brewer and Evans, are the agents of a company which it is proposed to form in this city, to carry on extensive business operations in the Fiji group, and they have taken with them a draft charter, to which they hope to obtain the signature of the reigning monarch and his principal chiefs. We have a copy of the charter before us, and it may possibly become an important historical document at some future time; we will state its more important details. In consideration of certain important privileges to he ceded to the Company, the latter is to “make suitable provision for the settlement of a claim of £IO,OOO, or thereabouts, preferred against. King Thakombau by the American Government, for losses said to have been sustained by American subjects who resided in his kingdom;-’ pay the King an annuity (of which the amount has not yet been filled in) from the date of the company’s formation ; pay annuities (blank sum) to certain chiefs (the number not stated), and “ at all,times after the formation of the company well and truly aid and assist King. Thakombau in upholding and defending his kingdom.” So much the delegates arc to undertake, on 1 the company’s behalf. His Majesty, of the other part, will, should he sign the charter as drafted, “ for ever grant, cede, transfer, and set over unto” trustees, on behalf of the company, certain islands and parts of islands set forth in a schedule, “together with the soil or bed of all seas, rivers, and waters adjacent to or abutting on the said scheduled territory, and also all harbours, inlets, creeks, &c, which the company may now or hereafter deem necessary for the enjoyment of the said scheduled , lands, &c.; also all mines or minerals in or upon the same.” The company will also have the “ sole and exclusive right to impose and levy such duties of Customs as to them may seem fit on the exportation and importation of goods into the kingdom of Fiji, and to levy wharfage or harbour, rates; and. the exclusive right to establish banks, and issue bank notes.” No portion of the ter-fs ; ■

ritory is to be alienated until the.company has been offered “ the preferential privilege of acquiring the same.” The company are to have full and absolute authority to make laws for the Government of the inhabitants (native and foreign) on the land ceded to them ; also to make laws to regulate the trade and commerce of the kingdom, or such portions of it as may be inhabited by a white-or mixed population; and to establish courts, appoint judges, magistrates, &c. The King pledging himself to uphold and defend the laws made by the company, and to piotect the inhabitants of the company’s territory, and their property, from the native or other violence. What his Fijian Majesty and his council of chiefs will have to say to the delegates and their draft charter remains to he seen.— Argus.