Fiji’s independence issue

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32803, 31 December 1971, Page 10

Fiji’s independence issue

(By

KENNETH ANTHONY)

stajp ST9RY

The dignified figure with the long, white beard —seen on the left side of this new stamp and set against a tropical background of waving palm trees—is that of King Cakobau, who ruled over Fiji for many years in the nineteenth century. It is, incidentally, the first stamp portrait of this island monarch, who was only 20 when he first came to power in 1837. But his Pacific kingdom was in a troubled state, and he decided that Fiji would only become a happy and united country when it was brought under the protection of one of the great powers. He therefore offered to cede Fiji to Great Britain—but the British government of the day politely declined. He then tried the United States, who did not even trouble to reply—for the Americans, in the midst of civil war, were concerned with more pressing matters at home. So King Cakobau approached the British authorities again, and this time the negotiations were

successful. Fiji became a British colony in 1874. Now the wheel has turned full circle, and in October, 1970, Fiji became a fully independent nation once more. So it is appropriate that the special set of independence stamps should include the 2c value illustrated here, depicting Cakobau, the last native king, with the cessidn stone at Lavuka, Fiji’s old capital, which commemorates the

spot where he formally handed oy er the sovereignty of Fiji to Queen Victoria. Unfortunately Cakobau, unlike his neighbour King