THE FIJI ISLANDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2605, 11 May 1869, Page 3

THE FIJI ISLANDS.

The following information from these islands has come to us (Ari/us) through the representatives here of the Polynesian Company. On the 12th of January the following invitation was addressed by Mr Drew, chief secretary of the Ban Government, to the white settlers of Levuka : “ As the general white interests in Fiji now demand and require that there should he such a settled form of government in Fiji as would be recognised by the principal European powers, and as there is a strong probability, if such a government be not at once established, that Fiji before long will be ruled by a power alike detrimental to our social and commercial interests, it has been determined on to revise Cakobau’s [Thakombau’s] present constitution and laws ; and by a proper system of representation, and an Executive Ministry or Cabinet, to make a thoroughly constitutional Government, which will insure to the whites their interests, and administer just and equitable laws to all alike. I have, therefore, to request that you will be good enough to elect by vote two gentlemen of your district as your pledged representatives, or delegates, to a general convention of delegates, to assemble at Ban, March 1, 1869. The business immediately pressing on this house of delegates, besides the acceptance and revision of the constitution and laws, will be : I. The labour question. “ 11. Land regulations. “ 111. Unsettled state of Viti Levu. “ IV. Ways and means “ These are questions involving the interests of all alike, and, therefore, are questions for the country.” The elections thus invited seem to have taken place. An assembly of the white settlers was held on the 3rd of March, and to them King Thakombau addressed the following speech (literally translated): “ I stand up in your presence, the chiefs from another country. I know that you have come here to do good, and not evil. You have come to enlighten our lands ; I rejoice to see you. We are foolish and ignorant, but we want to improve. We have got Christianity, and rejoice in its benefits; and now we want law established in the land. It is good that you should help us. I now think we shall be good, and do well. This is the second meeting of the sort we have had; the first was held, but did us no good ; we hope better things from this meeting. If you help us, it will be good. We are like a sinking canoe, and want you to help to bale out the water. You must remember that we are only a little canoe, and cannot carry much. Do not put too much in the canoe, lest it sink. There are two things heavy upon me, about which I want your advice;—l. The proposed war against the tribes in the mountains. The land is bad because of the mountaineers, and I wish to make all the country good. 2. The fine (indemnity to America). We are uncertain yet about help from Melbourne. There is also the law relating to selling land, which is bad, and wants improving ; the laws relating to labour; and also the raising of money on the land (taxes). You know how all these things should be done ; they are new things to me. The good we Fijians have is like the end of a man’s finger ; but we are anxious that the whole body should be good. My words are finished.”