The Press. MONDAY; APRIL 27, 1874.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2719, 27 April 1874, Page 2

The Press. MONDAY; APRIL 27, 1874.

Elsewhere we publish an account of the proceedings which took place at a meeting of the King and Chiefs of Fiji with Commodore Goodenough, and the British and Foreign Consuls, when the cession of the islands was agreed to. Some time ago Mr Thurston, Chief Secretary of the Kingdom of Fiji, finding that it was impossible any longer to conduct the Government of the country in a satisfactory jnanaer, communicated with Great Britain, to ascertain whether the Government were willing to annex the islands;- They expressed tbeir willingness to consider the question, and appointed" a commission consisting ot Commodore Goodenough and Mr Consul Layard to meet the Native Chiefs and discuss the subject. Accordingly a meeting was held on March 6tb, at which the King and his principal Chiefs were present, and to whom certain propositions were made. To the surprise of tbe settlers, who thought all had been previous arranged, Cakobau announced his unwillingness to agree to the cession. On this decision being made public, the white population refused to obey theKing and bis Government, or to pay taxes, and threw themselves on the protection of the foreign consuls. Maafu, one of the most powerful chiefs in the kingdom, also refused to accept tbe authority of the King, or allow him to collect money in his district. With all these difficulties looking him in the face, and with an empty treasury besides, and no means of raising fresh revenue, tbe King was induced to reconsider bis decision, and begged another meetingwith tbe Commissioners. This took place on March 20th, and the result was that the King addressed a letter to Commodore Goodenough and Mr Layard in which he stated his desire to cede the Government of his Kingdom to the Queen of Great Britain. This letter was forwarded by the last San Francisco mail, so that before long we shall no doubt hear what the decision of the Imperial Government is. The general opinion j seems to be that Mr Disraeli will accede to the request. The Conservatives have always shown a disposition to be more vigorous in their colonial i policy than the Liberals, and this I would be an excellent opportunity of proving that they are earnest in their ! professions. The press of Great Britain, we learn from recent telegrams, is also advocating annexation. There is besides another reason which will, no doubt,: strongly influence the Government in coming to an affirmative conclusion, namely, the danger of a foreign power accepting the sovereignty of the islands and converting them into a receptacle for their convicts. The voice of the Australian Colonies has been so loudly declared against the continuance of transportation to these; seas by Great Britain herself, that &_._{ is not likely to stand quietly aside audi .fo r .^fi n ..P. ower *° she in New Caledonia have shown J»o™ annoying it is to have a foreign penal colony in our immediate neighborhood, and how undesirable it is that their number should be increased. Noj doubt''steps have been taken by the different Colonial Governments todirect the attention of the Imperial authorities to the subject. The immediate result of annnexation, of course, would be the restoration of; confidence among the planters and traders of the islands, and the rapid development of their great resources. In this prosperity New Zealand would no doubt share with New South Wales, by the recent establishment of the Californian service.