New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4211, 18 September 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1874.

Although it is not probable that the Imperial Government will come to a decision respecting the assumption of a British protectorate over Fiji until the report of Sir Hercules Robinson has been received, there is scarcely a doubt what will bo the result. Sir Hercules would leave Sydney during the present month; Ins report therefore cannot reach England for some time to come; and in the meanwhile the subject will receive considerable attention. The last mail brought intelligence of a numerous and influential deputation having waited on the Earl of Carnarvon to urge that, on the grounds of reason and humanity, the Government should accept tho proffered cession; and tothistheEarlreplied that the subject was receiving .the active attention of the Government. This statement, and tho mission of Sir Hercules to the islands, naturally leads to theinferouoethat tho Government wished for further information on the subject. The Gladstone Ministry made a very great blunder in its Polynesian policy, and the Conservative Ministers‘are not emulous of supplementing it. Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues, with a laudable desire to foster native industry, recognized Thakombau Rex and his hotch-potch Ministry. They failed to see that Thakombau was but a puppet put forward by some white intriguers, who pulled the strings from behind the scenes. So well did these -manage the business, that a debt of £BO,OOO was very quickly incurred, for which there is nothing whatever to show ; and it will have to bo a liability against the Power that undertakes the Government of the Fijis. If the Imperial ' authorities really desire accurate information respecting Fiji and other islands in the Pacilic, they will soon be in a position to obtain it from Mr. Vogel. t! is visit to London may have no reference to this particular subject, but there is no question whatever that it will be discussed by him with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Mr. Vogel has not hesitated to, state that he hopes to see the time when tho Governor of Hew Zealand shall be Governor General of Polynesia; but, as be must be well aware, the present condition of Fiji is rather a hindrance to his South Sea scheme than otherwise. If the British Government would consent to assume the responsibility of governing Fiji all might yet run smoothly with it. Tho Fiji islands number about 200, and the interiois of the most important of them aro inhabited by a savage race of cannibals. On the sea coasts a white and mixed race has become located, which comprises a number of lawless convicts from various countries. Between them and the Natives there has been war to the knife, and fearful atrocities have been committed. Some of the whites have been known to boast “ that killing niggers in Fiji is as good sport as shooting partridges in England.” Of course there aro some respectable people ; but there are too many of this former class, who are known as “ beach combers.” One fruitful cause of quarrels between the races has been the desire of tho whites to obtain the possession of land, and the complicated, nature of the Native title. Something like a feudal custom prevails, by which, although tho people nominally possess land, the chiefs, for whom they aro bound to fight, and whom they have to feed,- have an interest in it. Consequently, a purchase has to s be effected, not only with 'an actual possessor, but by the consent of every chief of the tribe. ’ The white rascals have not cared to go through all this formality, but possession of laud iu any way, then held it by force. Upon it cotton plantations have been commenced, and at tho time of the cotton famine caused by the American war, hopes were formed that it would bo a profitable product. Later experience militates against tbis_ view,*but there is not a doubt that the islands are as adapted to the produce of sugar, the cano for which grows naturally, as the Mauritius. Also, almost every description of spice grows there spontaneously. Tho climate is found to be exhausting, but with care the health of a white population may bo preserved. No endemic disease is.known, and the hurricanes aro not worse than they aro in many 'parts of the world. Although there aro magnificent forests on tho islands, a considerable quantity of kauri timber has been imported from Auckland. Some importance was attached in England to the -want, in tho lato negotiations, of any reference to Maafu, who had been understood to be as great and powerful, in his own opinion at least, as Thakombau. But that eminent man would seem to have more than one string to his bow. In tho papers, relating to the South Sea Islands, submitted to Parliament, ho is said to be a claimant for tho throne of Tonga, when the death of King George shall occur, on the ground that he is tho bravest man there.' There will be a fight, for the sovereignty, and Maafu, it is said, will bring into tho field not only all tho old companions of his former wars, but a horde of merciless Fijian allies. The struggle, it is expected, will be long and sanguinary, if it should take place, and to avoid it the people are that a British protectorate should be established over the Friendly and Navigator groups of Isles. It was tho Navigator group, with which tho Friendly is sometimes incorporated, and vice versa, that tho present Ministry thought should bo selected as especially suitable for tho vessels of tho South Hea Company, if it were formed, to trade to. One of the objections of tho British Government to a colonising policy in Polynesia, has been that if it wore commenced there would be literally no end to it. It was said that if a Protectorate were assumed over Fiji it would have to be extended over neighboring islands. This is exactly the opportunity for New Zealand to step in and relieve tho British Government of this difficulty. Mr. Yogel can say that the Colony is absorbing 20,000 per annum of the surplus population of Great Britain, and that it

lias an evorflowing treasury. The people of this Colony, under such circumstances, would not be worthy descendants of their forefathers, who founded an Empire on which the sun never sets, if they did not long to plant the British Hag upon these fertile and lovely islands of the Pacific. The experiment which they are anxious to commence is not upon the savage islanders of the Fiji Group, but amongst the friendly, semi-civilised, inhabitants of Samoa and the surrounding isles. 'But they cannot begin with a "reasonable prospect of success unless the Homo authorities will relievo them of the liability to inroads from the lawless rascals who infect Fiji. If this-were done they would relieve the British Government from further uneasiness respecting the annexation of the other groups. Thus, both working together, they might found for Great Britain a grand Island Dominion in these Southern Seas, and effectually prevent other nations from securing an ascendancy, which would naturally bo viewed with dislike and jealousy by inhabitants of both Australia and Now Zealand. The New Caledonian settlement of the French on that island is a standing menace to us of what we may anticipate, if we allow the opportunity to drift by us. The Prussians, Austrians, or Italians, might do the same with Samoa or other islands of the group, as the French have with New Caledonia—make it a penal settlement with an English name.