THE FIJI ISLANDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 171, 17 April 1869, Page 6

THE FIJI ISLANDS.

Ik our Saturday’s issue, says the Argus, we a despatch from the Colonial Office to Sir Henry" Sutton, in regard to “ negotiations-entered into on behalf of a company in Melbourne to obtain rights of j urisdiction and property over a portion of the Fiji Islands/’ intimating that such undertaking would receive no encourage-ment-or authority from her Majesty’s Governments In connexion with this; despatch we have been requested to state that the • document from which we have quoted refers to the first treaty with King Thakombau, ahd the protest that was: entered against it by the acting consul, Mr. Thurston.. He, however, withdrew his opposition when the first treaty waa cancelled and a second one entered into. In the second treaty the ' Polynesia Company abandoned all claim to

sovereignty and jurisdiction, and the now existing treaty is simply a commercial transaction. We are further requested to state that no buccaneering was intended by the company, nor any disloyalty to the British throne. They did everything publicly, and the missionaries on the-islands approved of their project. In regard to the present condition of the islands in the matter of European settlement, a correspondent interested in the Polynesia company writes: —“ Some people like Fiji, and some do not; but we have no wish to write up Fiji as a country for settlement. Without any action of oui’s the islands are rapidly becoming populated by Europeans, and those who stay there, and have the means to start with, seem to prosper. One gentleman, a New Zealand squatter, ejected by the Maoris, went recently to Fiji with his wife and eight children. He was lucky enough to find on his arrival a plantation for sale ; he purchased it, and at once entered into comfortable quarters. A letter to his mother-in-law, who resides in Melbourne, describes the place as most delightful, and surpassing their expectations. He got some native women to engage as servants to his family, and he says a splendid river flows just before the door of his dwelling. Tlxis is a man of very considerable means. A young man employed in a mercantile situation in Bendigo lias j ust received a letter from his brothers, who Lad gone to Fiji some long time ago. They describe their doings botli in trade and planting as uncommonly profitable, and say they have magnificent prospects. On their advice the young man leaves his situation, and embai’ks for the islands by the first opportunity.”