TERMS OF CESSION OF FIJI.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 146, 21 November 1874, Page 4

TERMS OF CESSION OF FIJI.

We extract the following copy of the terms of cession of Fiji to the British from the Fiji Argus : Copy of resolution of Thakombau, Tui Viti, and Vunivalu, and other high Chiefs of Fiji, in Council assembled ;—handed by them to his Excellency Sir Hercules George itobert Robinson, at an interview held at Nasova, on Wednesday, the 30th September, A.D., 1871. A 'JTBANSIjATION.J Unto her Majesty Queen of Britain.—We, Kingof theFiji,together with otherhighChiefs of Fiji, hereby give our country, Fiji, unreservedly to her Britannic Majesty, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and we trust and repose fully in Her, that she will rule Fiji justly and affectionately, that we may continue to live in peace and prosperity. And we, desiring these conferences may terminate well and satisfactorily, request her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador unto us, Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, will confer with our advisers who have our confidence in these matters. (Signed) Cakobau R. D. Wilkinson, Chief Interpreter. Instrument of Cession of the Islands of Fiji by Thakombau, styled Tui Viti and Vunivalu, and by the other high Chiefs of the said Islands, to her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God of the

T'nited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, &e, &c, &c.

Whereas divers subjects of her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland have from time to time settled in the Fijian Group of Islands, and have acquired property, or certain pecuniary interests therein; and whereas the Fijian chief Thakoinbau, styled Tui Viti and Vunivalu, and other high Chiefs of the said island are desirous of securing the promotion of civilisation and Christianity, and of increasing trade and industry within the said islands ; and whereas it is obviously desirable in the interest as well of the native as of the white population that order and good government should be established therein ; and whereas the said Tui Viti and other high Chiefs have conjointly and se7erally requested her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland aforesaid to undertake the government of the said Islands henceforth ; And whereas, in order to the establishment of British Government within the said islands, the said Tui Viti and other the several high chiefs thereof, for themselves and their respective tribes, have agreed to cede the possession of, and the dominion and sovereignty over the whole of the said islands, and over the inhabitants thereof, and have requested her said Majesty to accept such cession—which cession the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs, relying upon the justice and generosity of her said Majesty, have determined to tender unconditionally—and which cession on the part of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs is witnessed by the execution of these presents and by the formal surrender of the said territory to her said Majesty ; And whereas his Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight Commander of the most distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor, Commander-in-Chief, and Vice Admiral of the British Colony of New South Wales and its dependencies, and Governor of Norfolk Island, hath been authorised and deputed by her said Majesty to accept on her behalf the said cession : Now these Presents Witness, —

1. That the possession of, and full sovereignty and dominion over, the whole of the Group of Islands in the South Pacific Ocean, known as the Fijis (and lying between the parallels of latitude of fifteen degrees south, and twenty-twodegrees south of the Equator, and between the meridian of longitude of one hundred and seventy-seven degrees west, and one hundred and seventy-five degrees east of the meridian of Greenwich), and over the inhabitants thereof, and of and over all ports, harbors, havens, roadsteads, rivers, estuaries, and other waters, and all reefs and foreshores within or adjacent thereto, are hereby ceded to, and accepted on behalf of, Her said Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, her heirs and successors, to the intent that from this time forth the said islands, and the waters, reefs, and other places as aforesaid, lying within or adjacent thereto, may be annexed to, and be a possession and dependency of the British Crown. 2. That the form or Constitution of Government, the means of the maintenance thereof, and the laws and regulations to be administered within the said islands shall be such as her Majesty shall prescribe and determine.

3. That pending the making by her Majesty as aforesaid, of some more permanent provision for the Government of the said islands His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, in pursuanca of the powers in him vested, and with the consent and at the request of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs, the ceding parties hereto, shall establish temporary or provisional Government as to him shall seem meet.

4. That the absolute proprietorship of all lands, not shown to be now alienated, so as to have become bona fide the property of Europeans or other foreigners, or not now in the actual use or occupation of some chief or tribe, or not actually required for the probable future support and maintenance of some chief or tribe, shall be and is hereby declared to be vested in her said Majesty, her heirs and successors.

5. That her Majesty shall have power, whenever it shall be deemed necessary for public purposes, to take any lands upon payment to the proprietors of a reasonable sum by way of compensation for the deprivation thereof.

6. That all the existing public buildings, houses, and offices, all enclosures and other pieces or parcels of land now set apart, or being used for public purposes, and all stores, fittings, and other articles now being used in connection with such purposes, are hereby assigned transferred and made over to her said Majesty. 7. That on behalf of her Majesty his Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson promises (1) That the rights and interests of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs, the ceding parties hereto, shall be recognised so far as is consistent with British sovereignty and colonial form of government. (2) That all questions of financial liabilities and engagements shall be scrutinised and dealt with upon principles of justice and sound public policy. (3) That all claims to titles of land, by whomsoever preferred, and all claims to pensions or allowances, whether on the part of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs or of persons now holding office under them or any of them, shall in due course be fully investigated and equitably administered. In witness whereof, the whole of the contents this instrument of cession, having been, previously to the execution of the same, interpreted and explained to the ceding parties hereto, by David Wilkinson Esquire, the interpreter nominated by the said Tui Viti and the other high Chiefs, and accepted as such interpreter by the said Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, the respective parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and seals. Done at Levuka, this tenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. (Signed) Cakobau R, (1.5.) Tui Viti and Vunivalu, Maafu (1.5.) Tui Cakau (ls.) Ratu Epeli (1.5.) Vakawaletabua, Tui Bua (l.s) Savenaca (l.s ) ISIKELI (L.S.) Roko Tui Dkeketi (l.s) Nacagilevu (1.5.) Ratu Kini (ls) RITOVA (L S.) Katunivere (L.S ) Matanitobu (1.5.) (Signed) Sekculhs Robikson (1.5.)

I hereby certify that, prior to the execution of the above instrument of Cession, which execution I do hereby attest, I fully and faithfully interpreted and explained to the Ceding parties hereto, the whole of the contents of the said document (the several interlineations on page line and on page line of the manuscript having first been made), and that such contents were fully understood, and assented to by the Ceding parties Prior to the execution of the said instrument of Cession, I wrote out an interpretation of the same in the Fijian language, which interpretation I read to the several chiefs, who one and all approved thereof A copy of such interpretation is hereto annexed, marked A. Dated this 10th day of October, A.D., 1874. (Signed) D. Wilkinson, Chief Interpreter.