ANNUAL MEETING OF FIJI CHIEFS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 134, 7 June 1881, Page 4

ANNUAL MEETING OF FIJI CHIEFS.

The correspondent of the Auckland Star writes: — Speaking of native gatherings reminds me of another which takes place once every year of quite a different character. It is the annual bose, or meeting of native chiefs, to deliberate upon native affairs '.with a- view to assist the G-overnment with their advice and experience, the Government having their representatives there to assist and direct, their deliberations. Now, the objects for which these chiefs meet fiiay be very praiseworthy, and the result of their deliberations' may be ofgreafcuse to the Government; but they can bear no comparison with the amount of evil they are productive owing to- the way they are carried on. First, there are the chiefs of provinces, or rokos, next the bulis, or chiefs, of district^ &c. These, with their scribeß, attendants, hangera-on, &c, make up a motley croud, sometimes numbering 5000 people. 1 They assemble at the head-quarters of theEoko, the chiefs to legislate for a short time, and then to join 1 the crowd in their orgies, who, in the meantime,, and for some weeks afte*, indulge in, feasting, drinking, , stealing, begging, and all the licentiousness for which the occasion affords &*pj>le opportunity. It is, in fact, a resuscitation of the old heathen Saturnalia under Government patronage. To this vast concourse, the chief of the province taxes his people almost beyond their powers of. endurance for food, presents, shelter, Ac, so that they c&rinqt. retain sufficient to last them till the next crops come round. In addition to this, the motley crowd, during their four, five, or six weeks' stay; Spread themselves over the town and the adjacent districts, and fairly "eat' the people out of house and home," It is incredible _the amount of food wasted at one of -these gatherings—food absolutely hacked, cut up, and thrown away to rot and putrify around, producing after disease and death. No wonder that after, the whole thing is over famine is keenly felt all over the district till next season comes round with new crops ; no wonder also that the native population is unmistakeably decreasing ; no wonder that the morality of the people is being sadly corrupted. .Be it known to all men that these meetings are a Government institution, and are productive of greater evil than anything that has existed amongst the Fijians since .they renounced heathenism. It ib high time the whole thing should be exposed to the civilised world, and that the voice of the British people should be heard, and their J influence brought to bear upon our Government to compel them to put down this iniquitous thing. i