THE LATE KING THAKOMBAU.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3642, 15 March 1883, Page 4

THE LATE KING THAKOMBAU.

Thakombau, ex-King of Fiji, is dead. His life is another remarkable illustration of the way in which, by force of character, a man may achieve a greatness to which blue blood" and titles cannot raise him. _ It happened in this ease- that he was of high Fijian origin, but if it had been otherwise he would have proved himself to be no common man, and might with a much humbler birth have worked"out the events of his life. During heathen days in Fiji the governing power" was divided among many chiefs. Wars were incessant, and to the insecurity of life was added the a 1 most utter stagnation of everything that was useful. Matters grew worse from year to year; and apparently Thakombau, savage as ho was, saw that*the only help for his country was in its deliverance*from the divided counsels and hostile relations of its tribes. If not with the best of motives, nor with tho mildest methods, yet with a distinct knowledge of what was needed, he set himself the~task of saving his country : and over all obstacles he made his way till he won and wore the proud title of Tui Viti,_ King of Fiji. Comparing small things with great ones, the Caesars, the Cromwells, and the Napoleons of the world have not done more than he did. If he had never won the real authority as well as the honor which belongs to" the name of king, the annexation of Fiji by Great Britain'would have been impossible by peaceful measures, and after the annexation there might have been—and might even nowbc—troubles which we know not of. Physically and mentally he was a notable man ; he had the true instincts of greatness, all the more noticed by their painful contrast to the unlicensed passions which ho exhibited in his heathen state. Under the influence of better things the most complete and remarkable change that ever passed over a mnn passed over him, of which he gave good proof till he died. He became the staunch fiiend of missionary euterprise. It struck a fatal blow at hi* personal vices, at his official cruelties, both of which had sanction enough in the tradiditons and usages of his country away back beyond the longest memory. He accepted the conditions. It was the work of a strong man to make sacrifice, and it evidenced more strength still through years of severe trial to hold his position as he did to the administration alike of those who were his friends, and of those who were only causal visitors to Fiji. During his short visit in Sydney, he said and did some things which showed how eagerly he longed for a higher life. He is said "to have remarked : ''I ■wish I were young again, but it is too late for me now to set up those wonderful works of yours, in Fiji." The old man was a true patriot, loving his country to the last, and he annexed it to Britian because he loved it. The value of his moral influence .in late years must have been great, and we can understand that he c i: ed in peace, having lived to see the hordes of Fijian savages in a fair way to all that is possible to them in civilization and Christianity.—S. M. Herald.