ROTUMAH AND ANNEXATION.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 113, 29 November 1879, Page 2

ROTUMAH AND ANNEXATION.

* On Monday last bis Excellonoy the Governor surrounded by bis personal staff, the hon. the Chief Justice, the hou. the Attorney General, heads of departments, the high oliiefs of Fiji, a few citizeus, and the representatives of the Press, accorded an official reception to the deputation of chiefs from Kotumah, who lately came up from their island to urge on aud hasten a decision of their recent prayer to her Majesty the Queen for annexation. Sir Arthur Gordon in bis official robes and decorations, took bis seat at a little after noon, and the three llosumah chielß were thon introduced by Mr. Wilkinson, his Commissioner who acted as interpreter. The chiefs said in effect that they had deemed it advisable to come to Fiji to see Her Majesty's representative, aud plead their desire for annexation in person. The offer to cede their island to Great Britain had been made in writing, but they were so anxious about it that they had come in person to urge on and hasten a decision. They wei e also anxious that his Exoellency should send some person down to Rotumah at once to wateh over their interests and to otherwise instruct them in forming some interim laws by which to govern themselves. They also desired to express their gratification at what they had seon and observed in Fiji since their arrival, for while they had been prepared to see improvements, whet they had seen by far surpassed their most sanguino expectations. This is all they had to talk. about. His Excellency then replied:—" Chiefs of Rotumah, it gives me pleasure to bid you welcome to Fiji. Your petition to the Rueen has already been forwarded to her Majesty, and I have reuouinioudod that its prayer should be complied with. Whether it is so or not it will be for the Queeuin her wisdomto determine. Meanwhile, and until her Majesty's pleasure be known, 1 am willing so far as I can do so, to accede to your wishes, and will send an officer of my Government, a relative of my owii, to live among you aud advise you. You will I am sure take heed to his words, and follow his oounsel, but till such time as her Majesty has deolared her will, the Government of the island will remain wholly with yourselves. Even should your offer be accepted, it will in a great maasure be 10. It iu through the chiefs of the laud that we look for, aud from whom we receive, efficient assistance in the. difficult task of government. It will bo the same in Kotumah, should the Queen consent to take you under the shelter of her throne. It is through you that we shall govern tlio people of tliu laud ; to you that we shall look for aid iu guiding and controlling. Whatever may bo the result of your present action, there oau be no doubt of this that her Majesty will be doeply touched by the coutidoni.o you have shown in hor goodwill towards you. I again bid you siucerely welcome, and trust lliat your short stay among us may prove in every respect agreeable to you.' The Rotumah chiefs then bogged his Excellency's acceptance of a few mats of their own manufacture, They knew his Exeelluucy bud no good of such artiolob, aud they were almost ashamed to present them, but they desired they.'tnighY be accepted as a good-will offering—as something from Kotumah. They had come to no hasty dooisiou iu offering their country to Croat Britain—their fathers had desired it before them, aud it had bceu long talked of by the Rotumah people, and now they were anxious to complete what their fathers had commenced. His Excollenoy said lie accepted the prMMlt in the spirit it was offered, and '

hoped their visit to Fiji would continue ;to be enjoyed by them and that they would have a pleasant voyages to then* homes. •"■ - His Excellency then withdrew, and shortly afterwards entertained all present at luncheon.