SIR J. B. THURSTON.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 434, 4 January 1890, Page 5

SIR J. B. THURSTON.

GOVEBNOIt OF FIJI IN TOWN. Sir John B. Thurston, Governor of the British colony of Fiji and High Commissioner of the Pacific, who arrived from Suva by the Fiji steamer Arawata, is on a short visit to Auckland, partly to recuperate his health. He leaves again for the Islands before long, but leaves Lady Thurston and children in town, oh a more extended visit of several months’ duration. On arrival here Sir John and -Lady Thurston and suite put tip at the Star Hotel, but last evening they 'left for St, George’s Bay, Parnell, where His Excellency has taken the residence of the late Hon. ' Henry Chamberlain fora term. Sir. John will remain in town for about six weeks, so that ho will be here during the Jubilee celebrations. He doos not intend to visib the Dunedin Exhibition during his stay in the colony. ■ All people are hardly aware of the great power which is exercised by Sir Joh n Thurston throughout the South Seas. As High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, he possesses practically unlimited power, and has jurisdiction over all British possessions in the islands of the Pacific, and over all crimes and offences committed by or against English subjects throughout the Pacific, where no European rule has been established. His functions include the authority to control the movements of the British Squadron in the Pacific and to order an English man-o’-.war whither he ibinks fit. In fact, in . very many ways Sir John is, by reason of his important position, endowed with .immense power in dealing with the multifarious misunderstandings which are continually .occurring in the Western Pacific Islands outside of Fiji. Sir John is one of the highest officials in Her Majesty’s colonial service, occupying a more important position than the Governor of New Zealand. He received special honour at the hands of Her Majesty in recognition of his many eminent services while placed in peculiarly difficult positions. Sir John Thurston, it may be remembered, was specially appointed by the Home Government to represent England at the Washington Conference some time ago in regard to Samoan affairs. Our American cousins, it would seem, felt a little sore over some matters in connection with, that Conference, but no Englishman who is ac- . quainted with him has doubted that Sir John acted to the utmost of his abilities in protecting purely British interests.

Sir John entered upon the Government of Fiji when that young colony was almost lioplessly bankrupt—financially rotten, in fact. Since then, by dint of hard work and unceasing endeavours, he has in a great measure succeeded in putting the group on a sound commercial footing again, and has reduced the colonial expenditure to within the bounds of the revenue. Under his care the Fiji sugar plantations are gaining a name everywhere for the turnout, and he is using all his endeavours to aid in the systematic culture of tea in Fiji, and supply if possible the Australasian demand for tea, which is now being imported from China and India. “ Auckland Star.” ,