ANNEXATION OF FIJI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4256, 10 November 1874, Page 2

ANNEXATION OF FIJI.

(From the Fiji Argus, October 16.) The last act of the important revolution that has taken place in the government of these islands was witnessed, on Saturday last, by a large number of spectators at Nasova. The instrument, ceding the whole of Fiji to Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, was signed by King Cakobau and the high chiefs of the nation. The hereditary owners and occupiers of the soil voluntarily and unconditionally ceded and signed away full sovereignty and dominion over the islands, and the inhabitants thereof, to Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, the Queen’s special commissioner, who accepted the same on behalf of Her Majesty. The Fijian banner, which, since its erection, has ever been subjected to a stormy career, was lowered to the ground and extinguished for ever, and the Royal Standard of England proudly took its place. It had been proposed by His Excellency to proceed with the interesting ceremony at ten o’clock in the forenoon, but the morning set in most unpropitiously. The day broke lowering and showery, and at 9 a.m. the rain descended in perfect torrents, which continued for some time. His Excellency sent on shore to announce that the British flag would not be hoisted until 2 p.m. Numbers, nevertheless*, braved the downpour torrent, at the hour first named, and great laughter was occasioned at their wretched dripping appearance as they returned from Nasova, with their annexation courage considerably damped. Towards noon the weather moderated, and at the appointed hour, it being comparatively fine, again large number’s of enthusiastic citizens were seen wending their way towards the now classic ground of the Government buildings ; and as Nasova opened to the view, it became apparent that the great business of the day was to be done. H.B.M. ships Pearl and Dido were anchored in close proximity to the buildings, and from the shore it could be distinctly seen that something more than ordinary was going on on board those noble war vessels. Presently, the capacious barges, loaded with armed soldiers and sailors, and pinnaces, gigs, and cutters, containing officers dressed in full uniform, approached the shore, and debarked their living freights. There was a strong detachment of Royal Marines, under Lieutenant Olive, and another of blue jackets, under Lieutenant Martin, H.M.S. Dido. These took up a position on the southern side of the quadrangle in front of the building. A detachment of native troops, under Captain Blackmore, faced them on the northern side. The band of the Pearl was stationed at the rear of the marines ; the whole force being under the command of Captain Chapman, of H.M.S. Dido. ARRIVAL OP HIS EXCELLENCE. At a little after two o'clock, there being, then at Nasova a very large assemblage of the inhabitants of Fiji, Sir Hercules Robinson, accompanied by Commodore Goodenough, left the Pearl, and received the Governor’s salute of seventeen guns. On landing, his Excellency, accompanied by his suite, immediately proceeded to the reception room of the building, wherein already were assembled Cakobau and the leading chiefs of Fiji, the Attorney-Gene-ral of New South Wales, the members of the new Executive Council, Mr. Justice Garrick, the Attorney-General, the Mayor, the Foreign Consuls, and others. The Governor was dressed in plain clothes, but wore the hedge and insignia of the order of St. Michael and St. George. As his Excellency passed between the two lines of troops, they presented arms, as the band played the National Anthem. SIGNING THE INSTRUMENT OP CESSION. The Governor, the King, and Commodore Goodenough then took their seats; every one else remained standing. Then Mr. Innes, producing the instrument of cession in duplicate, which had been engrossed on parchment —it having been first read over by the Government interpreter, Mr. Wilkinson, in Fijian —the whole of the chiefs signed and sealed the same. This having been done, it was at once signed by the Governor’—one copy being handed by the King to Sir Hercules, and the other handed by his Excellency to the King. Thus so far the act of cession was completed. PRESENTING THE KING’S WAR CLUB. An incident of great interest here took place. At the time our late Parliament was in its full bloom and vigour, a mace, an insignia of its authority, had been manufactured in Sydney. This mace is made of the King’s own war club, and is beautifully ornamented with scrolls, in solid silver, frosted, of palm leaves and other emblems of the tropical treasures we possess, and surmounted by a noble crown. It is certainly an elegant trophy, and when, at the request of the King, the mahogany casket which contained it was opened and it was taken out and laid before his Excellency, Sir Hercules evidently regarded the proceedings with surprise and curiosity. At the King’s request,.Mr. Thurston explained to the Governor, that in accordance with ancient usage, his Majesty was desirous of presenting to Queen Victoria a mark of Lis submission, and of his love, in offering his allegiance, and in conforming to a new and better state of things in the history of his country. It had occurred to him, that his own wav club, which, befere Christianity and civilisation prevailed, was the only law the country was ruled by—had long been the only code the people knew—would not be unacceptable to her Majesty, who would see, by the emblems of peace it bore, the great change that had taken place hero. Mr. Thurston further re-

marked that the token now offered had been prepared for the Parliament of Fiji, and trusted that Sir Hercules Robinson would forward it to her Majesty as a present from the King, - Sir Hercules requested Mr. Thurston to tell the King that he should forward his present to Queen Victoria, and also an Account of its history, and was sure her Majesty would receive it with great interest. HOISTING THE EL AG. And now the crowning ceremony —the hoisting of the British .flag—was to take place. The signing being over, his Excellency and suite, &c., proceeded to the verandah of the building, and took up a front position in view' of the assembled multitude ; King Cakobau standing on the Governor’s left hand, and Commodore Goodenough on his right. His Excellency then, in a clear and most distinct voice, said :—“ The legal forms for the transfer of the government of this country to the Queen v have just been completed, and will be made public through the medium of the Gazette in the course of a few hours. It now', therefore, only remains for me to declare Fiji to he from this time forth a possession and a dependency of the British Crown. (Loud- cheers.) I fervently trust that this important step will tend to develop the great natural capabilities of these beautiful islands, and at the same time conduce largely to the contentment and happiness of all classes of the population. (Applause.) I hope, too, that past differences and disagreements will henceforth be forgotten, and ' that all local animosities will this day be buried at the foot of the staff on which we are now about to hoist the British flag.” , (Loud cheers.) Lieutenant Eiwyn, of H.M.S. Pearl, was in attendance to perforpa the ceremony of hoisting the British standard, and at a signal from the Governor a-stalwart blue-jacket, one of the signalmen of the Pearl, who was with him, lowered the Fijian flag. Then bending on its proud successor —the flag of England ascended and waved for the first time over the isles of Fiji. Who shall describe the three stentorian cheers that then burst forth from the assembled multitude ? The troops presented arms ; the band played the national .anthem of England ; and the flag was saluted by the booming of twenty-one guns from the Pearl. It was a glorious sight, and one that can never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Not the letet curious amongst the varied emotions that presented themselves were those of the noble old King and his greyheaded chieftains, who stood by to witness their voluntary sacrifice in the interests of their people. They looked on, let us say, not without a marked air of deep sadness. As their own flag descended, several of them muttered audibly—Sa Mate I Sa Mate / or dead ! dead ! And he who could look upon these simple, though high caste chiefs indifferently, as they gave up their birthright and all that every moral being holds dear—their country—must be hard-hearted indeed, if he could not feel for them the fullest sympathy.. But the ceremony was complete. His Excellency desired ‘ jhree cheers for the Queen, which having been given, he said : “ I now ask you to give three cheers for the Vanivalu. He has shown himself to be a great Prince in what he has done, consulting only the interests of his people.” A hearty response was given to this appeal. This concluded the ceremony, and the Governor, •with the Commodore and suite, proceeded through the lines towards his boat, the troops presenting arms, and the people cheering heartily as he passed, A few lingered near the spot to witness the embarkation of the British forces, but most people immediately hurried back to Levuka, and in half an hour the place had resumed its former quietude, overlooked indeed, to keep the peace, by the stern monitor left floating on the wind, that never permits an unwilling acquiescence to its mandates. EVENING PASTIMES. The evening turned out rainy and discouraging for out-door exhibitions of enthusiasm ; so beyond a few extra libations at the various hostelries by the enthusiastic patriots, an air of general dulness seemed to prevail. The bonfires on the hill were ignited, but they emitted no willing glow. A few -wretched natives shivered about the beach, carrying burning sticks, and they seemed to understand they were now Ki Brittanias , apparently a gratifying assurance, from the way they jabbered. And so was brought to a conclusion the great, glorious, and memorable day of annexation so long and so earnestly piayed for. his excellency’s visit to loma loma. (From the Fijian Times, October 16.) H.M.S. Pearl, flying the Commodore's flag, and having on board his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson and suite, and the Honorable the Attorney-General of New South Wales, with H.M.S. Dido, flying the Fijian fla" at the main, and having King Cakobau, Ratu Timothy, Ratu Joseph, and Ratu Savanaca on board, sailed out of Levuka Harbor on Wednesday, the 30th ultimo, bound for. Loma Loma, where they arrived on the following morning. Soon after anchoring, Sir Hercules received Maafu and Tui Cakau, who, after,the usual salutations, invited to proceed to business. It was explained to them that the King (who was present) and the principal Ban chuffs had signed the documents ceding the -’’T’fjis unconditionally to Great Britain, to f which they replied, “Vinaka sara,” and expressed readiness to do likewise. The instruments having been read and explained to them by the aid of Mr. Wilkinson, special interpreter, those two mighty chiefs, willingly, and with apparent satisfaction, signed them, evincing at the same time that complacency and assurance which showed that they had well considered the matter, and were doing the act with all their hearts, under a firm conviction that it was the proper and best course to pursue. Formalities being terminated, a social conversation ensued, and Sir Hercules, with all the other gentlemen, were invited by Maafu to go ashore in the evening to witness a grand mekemeke, got up in special style in honor of the occasion. The invitation was generally accepted, and the two windward chiefs left the ship on good terms with themselves and everybody around them, having shaken hands cordially with all. on the quarter deck, including Cakobau himself. The mekemeke was a great success, and on Monday, the 2nd instant, the two ships sailed for Macuata, where, to stop hostilities then going on between Tui Macuata and Katu Na Yen, they took on board the contending chiefs and Bono Yei Toga, ostensibly to witness the final act of annexation at Levuka. The ships then proceeded to Bua, and remained there over one night; His Excellency, accompanied by the gentlemen of his suite, the Commodore, Mr. Innes, and other gentlemen, going on shore and enjoying a pleasant ramble. The ships returned to Levuka on Wednesday last and anchored off Nasova; all concerned having been no less delighted with the success of their mission, than with the pleasant trip, around the islands which it had compelled them to take. OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION. (From the Fiji Government Gazette, October 10.> Proclamation by Ills Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor, Commander-in-Chiof, and ViceAdmiral of the colony of New South Wales and its dependencies, Governor of Norfolk Island, and provisionally, Governor of Fiji. Whereas by an instrument of cession, bearing date the 10th October, A.D. 1874, duly executed under their respective hands and seals, Thakombau, styled Tui Vlti and Vuni Valu, and the other high chiefs of Fiji, for themselves and their respective tribes, have voluntarilly and unconditionally ceded to Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen. Defender of the Faith, &c., &c., &c., possession of, and full sovereignty and dominion over, the Fijian Group of Islands, and over the inhabitants thereof: and whereas I, Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor, Com-mander-in-Chlef, and Vice-Admiral of the colony of New South Wales and its dependencies, and Govonor of Norfolk Island, In pursuance of the powers and --authority in me vested, have, in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty, accepted such cession : Now I, the said Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, in pursuance of the said cession, and in pursuance and by virtue of the powers and authority in me vested, do hereby proclaim the whole of the group of Islands in the South Pacific Ocean, known as the Fiji#, and lying between the parallels of latitude of fifteen degrees south, and twenty-two degrees south of the equator, and between the meridians of long!tude of one hundred and seventy-seven degrees west, and one hundred and seventy-five degrees east of the meridian of Greenwich, to be from this time forth a possession and dependency of the British Crown. ' And X do hereby further proclaim that I have, by "' t virtue and in pursuance of the powers and authority in me vested, this day assumed, in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty, the temporary administration

of the government of the said islands, until the pleasure of Her Majesty shall be made known as regards the Constitution and permanent government of the colony. _ ... Given under my hand and seal, at Isnsova, tins tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, and in the thirty-eighth year of Her Majesty s reign. God Save the Queen. INSTRUMENTS OF CESSION AND ACCEPTANCE. Nasova, Fiji, Oct. 10, 1574. His Excellency the Governor directs the publication, for general information, of the following documents : Copy of resolution of Thakombau, Tui Viti, and Vunivalu, and other high chiefs of Fiji, in council assembled, handed by them to His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, at an interview held at Nasova, on Wednesday, the 30th September, а. 1874. ‘ . , Unto Her Majesty Queen of Britain-- ; We, King of Fiji, together with other high chiefs of Fiji, hereby give our country, Fiji, unreservedly to Her Britannic Majesty Queen of Great Britain and Ireland; and we trust and repose fully in her, that she will rule Fiji justly and affectionately, that we may continue lo live in peace and prosperity. And we, desiring these conferences may terminate well and satisfactorily, request HerßritanmcMajesty’a ambassador unto us, Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, will confer with our advisers, who have our confidence in these matters. (Signed) Cakobau R. D. Wilkinson, Chief Interpreter. Instrument of Cession of the Islands of Fiji by Thakombau, styled Tui Viti and Vunivalu. and by the other high chiefs of the said islands, to Her Most Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c., &c., Ac. Whereas divers subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland have from time to time settled in the Fijian Group of Islands, and have acquired property or certain pecuniary interests therein ; and whereas the Fijian chief Thakombau, styled Tui Viti and Vunivalu, and other high chiefs of the said islands, are desirous of securing the promotion of civilisation and Christianity, and of increasing trade and industry within the said islands: and whereas it is obviously desirable in the interests as well of the native as of the white population, that order and good government should be established therein; and whereas the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs have conjointly and severally requested Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland aforesaid to undertake the government of the said islands henceforth ; and whereas, in' order to the establishment of British government within the said islands, the said Tui Viti and other the several high chiefs thereof, for themselves and their respective tribes, have agreed to cede the possession of, and the dominion and sovereignty over, the whole of the said islands, and over the inhabitants thereof, and have requested her said Majesty to accept such cession—which cession the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs, relying upon the justice and generosity of her said Majesty, have determined to tender unconditionally —and which cession on the part of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs is witnessed by the execution of these presents, and by the formal surrender of the said territory to her said Majesty : and whereas his Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor, Commander-in-Chlef, and Vice-Admiral of the British colony of New South Wales and its dependencies, and Governor of Norfolk Island, hath been authorised and deputed by her said Majesty to accept on her behalf the said cession:— Now these presents witness—1. That the possession of, and full sovereignty and dominion over the whole of the group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, known as the Fijis (and lying between the parallels of latitude of fifteen degrees south, and twenty-two degrees south of the equator, and between the meridian of longitude of one hundred and seventy-seven degrees west, and one hundred and seventy-five degrees east of the meridian of Greenwich), and over the inhabitants thereof, and of and over all ports, harbors, havens, roadsteads, rivers, estuaries, and all reefs and foreshores, within or adjacent thereto, are hereby ceded to, and accepted on behalf of, her said Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, her heirs and successors, to the intent that from this time forth the saidislands, and the waters, reefs, and other places as aforesaid, lying within or adjacent thereto, may be annexed to, and be a possession and dependency of, the British Crown. 2. That the form or constitution of Government, the means of the maintenance thereof, and the laws and regulations to be administered within the said islands, shall be such as Her Majesty shall prescribe and determine. ' _ ■ 3. That, pending the making by Her Majesty as aforesaid, of some more permanent provision for the government of the said islands, His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, in pursuance of the powers in him vested, and with the consent and at the request of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs, the ceding parties hereto, shall establish such temporary or provisional government as to him shall seem .meet. 4. That the absolute proprietorship of all lands, not shown to be now alienated, so as to have become bona fide the property of Europeans or other foreigners, or not now in the actual use or occupation of some chief or tribe, or not actually required for the probable future support and maintenance of some chief or tribe, shall be and is hereby declared to be vested in her said Majesty, her heirs and successors. 5. That Her Majesty shall have power, whenever it shall be deemed necessary for public purposes, to take any lands upon payment to the proprietor of a reasonable sum by way of compensation for the deprivation thereof. б. That all the existing public buildings, houses, and offices, all enclosures and other pieces or parcels of land now set apart, or being used for public purposes, and all stores, fittings, and other articles now being used in connection with such purposes, are hereby assigned, transferred, and made over to her said Majesty. 7. That on behalf of Her Majesty, His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson promises—(l). That the rights and interests of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs, the ceding parties hereto, shall be recognised so far as is consistent with British sovereignty, and colonial form of government. (2). That all questions of financial liabilities and engagements shall be scrutinised, and dealt with upon principles of justiccand sound public policy. (3). That all claims to titles of land, by whomsoever preferred, and i all claims to pensions or allowances, whether on the part of the said Tui Viti and other high chief or of persons now holding under-them or any of them, shall in duo course be fully investigated and equitably adjusted. In witness whereof, the whole of the contents of this instrument of cession having been, previously to the execution of the same, interpreted and explained to' the ceding parties hereto, by David Wilkinson, Esquire, the interpreter nominated by the said Tui Viti and the other high chiefs and accepted as such interpreter by the said Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, the respective parties hereunto set their hands and seals. * , Done at Levuka, this tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. (Sd.) Cakobau R., Tui Vitu and Vunivalu (1.5.) Maafu (1.5.) Tui Cakau (1.5.) Ratu Ebeli (1.5.) Vakavaletabua, Tui Bua (1.h.) ‘ Savenaca, (1.5.) Tsikelt (l.s ) Roko Tui Dreketi (1.5.) Nacaoilevu (1.5.) Ratu Kini (1.5.) Bitova *' (1.5.) Katunivere (1.5.) Matanitobua (1.5.) (Sd.) Hercules Robinson (1.5.) I hereby certify that, prior to the execution of the above instrument of cession, which execution I do hereby attest, I fully and faithfully interpreted and explained to the ceding parties hereto, the whole of the contents of the said document (the several Interlineations on page line and on page line of the manuscript having been made), and that such contents wore fully understood, and assented to by the said ceding parties. Prior to the execution of the said instrument of cession, I wrote out an interpretation of the same in the Fijian language, which interpretation I read to the several chiefs, who, one and all, approved thereof. A copy of such interpretation is hereto annexed, marked A. Dated this 10th day of October, a.d, 1874. (Signed) D. Wilkinson, Chief Interpreter. APPOINTMENTS. His Excellency then proceeded to make the necessary appointments, a long list of which was gazetted. It included following chiefs to be Rokos of provinces: 1. Maafu, Lau. 2. Tui Cakau, Cakadrove. 3. Ratu Epili, Tal Levu and Naitlairl. 4. Ratu Savanaca, Central Islands or LOmaikViti. 5- Tui Macuata, Macuata. 0. Tui Bua,.,Bua. 7. Tui Dreketi, liewa. 8. Cagi Levu, Ka®hi. 0. Ratu Kini, Nadroga. 10. Ratu Isikeli Roko Tui Bau, Ba, and Yasawa. 12. Matanltobu\Namosi.