TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9160, Issue 9160, 9 March 1910, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Fiji files just to hand announce the death of Mr David WilA Fine kinson, of Suva, probColonist. ably the oldest European resident of Fiji, and one whoso life story was inseparably connected with the history of the island colony. The late Mr Wilkinson, who was the father of Mrs Stubbs, wife of Cr. W. Stubbs, of Palmerston North, arrived in Fiji in 1861 as the representative of a Wostralian cattle jreoding company, taking up his residence upon the island of Kioa. Hβ represented the company for a year there, and then, with his wife and family, removed'to Bua, where they resided for thirty years, and it was hnre that deceased's distinguished official career began. In 1564, at the recjueet of the Chief Tui Bua, and with the consent of Capt. Jones. V.0., British Consul, deceased took office as Secretary and Adviser to the chief, and this position he held for ten years, when the final cession of Fiji to Britain was made. Tribal wars were laying waste Fiji at this time, and it was in 1865 that Capt. Jones invited Mr Wilkinson to accompany him to a gathering of chiefs at Levuka, with the object of stopping the strife. The meeting lasted three days, and by tactful and sympathetic procedure the chiefs were induced to combine for their mutual progress and protection. The position was extremely delicate, and it was here that Mr Wilkinson rendered invaluable eervice. Subsequently the federation of chiefs lost its hold, and deceased was sent on numerous occasions to endeavour to bring them back to a sense of duty, and finally a new confederation was formed and a constitution adopted. This put an end to all war and gave lasting peace to the people, until the Fiji Government was formed.

Mk. Wilkinson was appointed to Sir Hercules Robinson, s His staff, and accompanied Record, the Commissioner on his visits to the varioue chiefs, and was with him during the negotiations with the chiefs at Levuka and at the High Chief's Council when the deed of cession was signed. When the "Union Jack" was hoisted Mr Wilkinson received 'the special thanks of the Commissioner for the valuable services he had rendered. On October 10th, 1874. Mr Wilkinson was appointed Chief Interpreter for Fiji His public services are thus set out in the "Colonial Office List".:— Chief Interpreter of Fiji, 1874, Secretary to the Lands Commission, 1075, appointed Native Commissioner 18 <6, member of Native Regulation Board, 1877, accompanied Department Commissioner Maudsley as Special Political Agent to the King and Chiefs of Tonga in 1878, and in 1879 went with Sir Arthur H. Gordon to Tonga, where the treaty between Britain and that kingdom was formed; _ was a Commissioner for the establishment of Native Industrial Schools, and a member of the Legislative Council. Hβ retired from the public service in ISB2, was recalled for special service and appointed Commissioner of Native Lands, 1894. He retired m 1905." Deceased assisted greatly in the development of the Islands, and his colonising work was of such a splendid character that he was held in the highest esteem by both Europeans and natives. His record in public and private life was particularly fine, and exercised an influence upon the races which made for their betterment.