FANNING ISLAND AND JAPAN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2678, 11 August 1913, Page 8

FANNING ISLAND AND JAPAN.

FATHER ROUGHER IN COURT. AN INTERESTING LETTER. During the hearing of a case in Suva recently, certain statements of considerable interest to Australia were mad'e in court. The following report appeared in the Fiji Times of A lay 8: — “Suva, is mentioned in a suit, winch has been brought by Captain Miller in the Honolulu Circuit Court against Father Emmanuel Rougier, formerly proprietor of Fanning and Washington Islands. Captain Miller, of Honolulu, claims from Father Rougier the sum of 53,531 .oOdoh as commission for his aid in, the sale of Washington and Fanning Islands to the Armstrong syndicate of London, England. “In an effort to tie up such money as he believes Father Rougier has in the First National Rank of Hawaii, Miller garnisheed that institution. President Cecil Brown, in his return, states that the nearest approach to the sum of 53,531.50d01. which Rougier has on deposit in the bank in question is 43.89d01. _ ‘Tfc is in showing that ho was R.ougier’s accredited agent that Miller reveals a strange chapter showing Father Rougier’s dealings with Japan through a letter addressed to Miki Saito, Japanese Consul in Honolulu at the. time. “In his letter Father Rougier sets forth that ho Is a Frenchman, and that he holds absolute title to Fanning Island through having purchased it in the English Court at Suva. Fiji. “ ‘Fanning Island has a good, safe harbor, where coal and water may he obtained,’ he writes, ‘and it would prove an linvailuablo snot fnr a rendezvous. ’ “ ‘The object of this communication is to have you bring this to the attention of the proper parties in Japan,’ concludes the missive. “Father Rougier states that at the time of writing lie was 'about to sail for Fanning Island, and hie had appointed Captain Frederick C. Miller his agent in negotiations for the nrnrxrty.” •