TROUBLE IN FIJI.

Evening Star, Issue 11452, 21 January 1901, Page 6

TROUBLE IN FIJI.

♦ THE NATIVES RESTLESS THE GOVERNOR'S PECULIAR POLICY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, January 20. The citizens of Suva and the Fiji Federal League have written requesting Mr Seddon to convey to the Government of the Commonwealth their congratulations on its inauguration, and their regret at not being represented on so historic an occasion. The natives of'Nausori have -written to the Government of Fiji .refusing to do any more' work at road repairing unless they are paid for it.

The chairman of the -Federal League, in forwarding a copy of this letter to Mr Seddon, states that ho had advised the natives to go back to their homes and wait quietly for a reply. The writer continues : "It is from such a matter as this that a rising might bo apprehended. The natives were informed that every effort ih being made, with the help of New Zealand, to bring about a change of government." In another letter from the Federal League it is pointed out that the Governor's acr tion in ordering that his speech at the opening of ihe hospital should be read in every village in the colony is causing a serious fteiing to be engendered in the minds or! the natives against the whites of the colony, and especially against those who are -n any way. connected with New Zealand. The lii.vt-ri'ior ia stili sending officials to various districts, where the Federation League are holding meetings. The writer entreats Mr Seddon to use his influence to prevent tie continued circulation of slanders by the Governor against the whites and against New Zealand, and suggests telegraphing to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject. A letter from the leading personages of Fiji urges the removal of Sir G. O'Brien, us he is not only opposed to.the closer union of Fiji with New Zealand, but also opposes the extension' of New Zealand's influence amongst the Islands. Sir G. O'Brien regards the strictures of the Press in New Zealand and Australia in the nature of a blow. He says that he has struck at what he terms the "impudent aspirations" of the Premier of New Zealand. The writer predicts that while in this frame of mind Sir G. O'Brien will probably be most mischievous in the Pacific, and says that there is no reason to believe that he intends to instruct the Deputy-Com-missioner at Tonga to circulate confidentially his speech at the opening • meeting. There is no doubt, the writer says, that Sir G. O'Brien is strongly backed in England by Lord Stanmore, formerly Sir Arthur Gordon, and the Exeter Hall party, and he trusts that the sacrifices made by New Zealand in the cause of the Empire will have the effect of strengthening Mr Seddon to obtain the removal of the Governor. The writer asks him to secure the co-opera-tion of the Premiers of Australia, because these slanders affect Australia, and will spread to the New Hebrides and the Solomons, where Fijian is the lingua franca. In reference to the proposed deportation of Mr Slade, the tatter, in a letter to Mr Seddon, states that his church would not accede to the demand of the Governor for his removal, and the Governor would have to retire from the position he had taken" ap or issue an Order-in-Council for arrest.. If he did the latter Mr Slade intended to destroy it, and to allow the Governor to arrest and imprison him. The writer also states that the Governor continues to publish and emphasise his slanders on New Zealand throughout the group, and that if a proper referendum of the natives is taken it would declare overwhelmingly for federation—not that they understand it, but because they have suffered so greatly under the present regime.