ANNEXATION OF FIJI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4147, 6 July 1874, Page 3

ANNEXATION OF FIJI.

The annexation of Fiji was discussed in the House of Comihom on the 20th of April. The Karl of Carnarvon, in. laying upon tho tabic the instructions given to tho British Commissioners to inquire into tho condition of these islands, said that sinco a noble earl had put a question to him upon the subject ho had soon a telegram which had reached this country announcing the formal cession of tho islands to tho British Crown. Ho had no reason to believe that such a cession had been made, because, in the first place, if it had ho thought he should have received information of it ; and, secondly, because it was not within the competency of tho commissioners to accopt it. The labors of those commissioners were now so near their completion that there was no reason why he should not lay upon the table tho instructions given them, and it was alike duo to thepublicand tho late Colonial Secretary that they should be laid on the table. Those instructions seemed to point to certain results, and it was tho business of the Commissioners to make inquiries into tho tenure of land, and how much it was proposed should be held by companies, and other matters affecting tho administration of affairs in tho islands. Since tlio institution of the inquiry considerable changes had taken place, and tho authority seemed chiefly to rest in tho hands of throe Englishmen, who could not bo said to bo very popular. The Treasury was in a state of great indebtedness, and tho discontent was increasing. There were 170,000 inhabitants, and between 3000 and 4000 whites, and it was very difficult to restrain the races within reasonable bounds. On several occasions they had been on the point of coming to open warfare, and had only been kept in order by tho somewhat ill-defined but wholesome jurisdiction administered

| by the various captains of men-of-war on the station. He drew no inference at present ■ from the papers he laid on the table. They contained matters of considerable interest, and the main question, of course, was in reference to the expediency of annexing the islands, which was a large one. On the one hand, there had been repeated overtures to the Crown, endorsed, so to speak, by the applications of the Australian Colonies. Victoria, NeAV South Wales, and the other Australian Colonies had expressed their opinion in favour iof the annexation of the Fiji Islands to the Crown of Great Britain, and their recommendation derived weight from the fact that while formerly they were isolated they were now opened ivp, partly by legitimate, and partly by illegitimate trade, and were now in the direct track of civilisation. On the other hand, there were grave considerations in regard to climate, in regard to the winds and currents, and in regard to expenses which would be involved in the question of cession. By no means the least serious question was, what was to be done with the natives, whom he looked at as pretty much in the position in which New Zealanders were twenty-five years ago. The matter would have to be fully discussed before any conclusion could be come to upon it. The Government were waiting from week to week for the report of the Commissioners, and until they received it, it would be premature to express any opinion as to what would be their ultimate decision.