FIJI.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 11, 14 December 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)

FIJI.

THE QUESTION OF ANNEXATION. The topic of the day is annexation with Britain, out of which a brisk newspaper war has been evolved since the purchase of the Gazette by the Government. The Fiji Times, which previously was content to take the Government advertisements and printing and hold its peace, has gone over to the Opposition, and is now clamorous for annexation to Britain : argues that the attempt to work a European - native Government has proved a failure ; that the native mind requires educating before it is capable of conforming to European laws, manners, and costoms ; and that to dispense with the native element and establish a Government for the European population alone would be impossible, the number of Europeans in Fiji being only 2,000, while the native population is 40,000. The Gazette, in a leading article of three columns’ length combats the proposed annexation, vindicating the success of the Government, and maintaining its utility on the ground of economy and efficiency. Opinion in the group is as divided upon the subject as are the journals of Lovuka. Colonel Hamilton, who is not unknown to our readers, has resigned his Attorney-Generalship —for very good reasons I believe, and is now one of the annexationists.

Affairs at the Ba have assumed a mnch better aspect than they have ever before done during King Cakobau’s reign. A Fijian force, under Major-General Fitzgerald, was despatched to subdue the hardy mountaineers, who had announced their intention to resist Cakobau’s authority. The King’s forces were away many weeks, and suffered much more from want of provisions than either they or their enemies did from each others’ bullets. The natives are arrant cowards, and perhaps to this trait in their character may the safety of Europeans in these islands be mainly attributed. MajorGeneral Fitzgerald has returned to Levuka, and heralds the announcement that the mountaineers are subdued, and that the leading chiefs have sent a deputation to tender their formal submission to the King. This easy settlement of what it was feared would prove a protracted and costly war is regarded here as very satisfactory. The advent of the tax-gatherer is not at all well appreciated by the Fijians, and in the absence of a circulating medium amongst the native population, who scarcely ever indulge in barter amongst themselves, some difficulty was experienced in devising a method for placing the means of payment within their reach. The office of tax-collector in Fiji is anything but a sinecure. It will require an able-bodied man with a sack to receive the various offerings which are likely to be forthcoming. One of the schooners fitted out by the Imperial Government for the suppression of the slave trade came into Levuka harbour last Monday. She is called the Ethel, and is a smart-looking craft of 87 tons register. Her armament consists of one Armstrong gun, and she is manned by 25 men. The Ethel, shortly before arrival at Levuka, overhauled a vessel floating the Fijian flag, and examined her papers. This has somewhat disconcerted several amiable captains who have changed their colours under

the impression that it would free them from the inconvenience of being overhauled. The Fiji Times indulges in a little satire at the worthy skippers, by suggesting “ that the Government should resent this insult to the Fijian flag, and demand fitting and ample apology from Britain, as the atrocious deed was committed within a mile or so of Fijian soil.”

Captain Hill, of Rabi, was brought up at the Warden’s Court and charged, before Messrs. Brougham and Emberson, with being accessory to the murder of several natives. The charge wc believe was preferred on the accusation of some Fijian who nas not present at the Court. The case was remanded for evidence. Bail was refused.

The revenue of the Kingdom for the quarter ending 30th September was 28,374 dollars 22 cents. The expenditure equalled it. There are many poisonous fish in Fijian waters. —The Hon. Treasurer of the Levuka Hospital, at a meeting of the committee last Thursday evening, reported £320 in hand.—A return of Polynesian immigration for the quarter ending 30th September shows that 430 men and 130 women arrived. —The resignation of Mr. H. Freeman, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Fiji, has been accepted.—The Levuka crier’s bell has collapsed :at any rate it has gone cracked. The crier now carries an empty kerosine tin which he uses as a drum. and. announces sales and meetings to the music of its inspiriting and martial sounds.—A splendid sample of a fibre prepared from an indigenous plant of Fiji is shown by Mr. Drew. The material was very fine, yet strong and regular, aud the staple was about a yard in length, perhaps a little over. The plants from which it is prepared are very numerous, and it is Mr. Drew’s intention to send a sample home to be tested as to its quality, its uses, and its value.