THE ANNEXATION OF FIJI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4238, 20 October 1874, Page 3

THE ANNEXATION OF FIJI.

(From the Otago Guardian, October 14.) The news of the annexation of Fiji to the British Crown will be received with satisfaction throughout the Empire, and by this colony in particular. After years of wearisome delay to all those who were interested, and considerable expense to the Imperial Government (not to speak of Native sufferings, &c.), that has been done which should have been done long ago. There can be no doubt that the credit is due mainly to Mr. Disraeli and the Ministry of which he is tho leader. Had Mr. Gladstone continued in power, it is questionable whether those islands would over have been brought under the shadow of tho English flag. There can be no doubt that tho annexation of the Fiji's is a wise measure, and will redound to the honor and credit of Great Britain, as well as to the extension of her trade. These islands are about the most fertile and extensive in the whole South Sea group—so fertile as to support a native population of nearly two hundred thousand in comparative comfort and almost absolute idleness, although a mere fraction of tho land is under crop of any kind.

With law and order reigning supreme, and the appliances of European skill, industry, and capital, a population of many'times the present number could be maintained with still greater comfort, and even luxury. Sugar-growing, which is well known to support a large population in countries suited for it, will doubtless be the staple product for many years to come. Cotton, coffee, rice, spices, and other tropical products will no doubt be cultivated on a minor scale, in localities specially suited to their growth. To us in New Zealand, and in Otago in particular, the annexation is of peculiar interest. Interchange of products with tropical countries is what we have long wanted, but this has been hitherto almost unattainable, owing to distance and other causes. Now a splendid opportunity presents itself which . may never occur again, and we only hope it will not he lost. It is too common a notion amongst the citizens that Dunedin, which is at present the commercial metropolis of New Zealand, will ever remain so without effort on our part. Never was a greater mistake made. Our merchants are already experiencing continu-ally-increasing competition in the other ports, and it is not unlikely that active efforts will he made by our neighbors to secure this new trade which is about to be opened up with the Fijis. A sugar refinery in our midst is now an absolute necessity if we are to hold our own. A cotton factory is also worthy of consideration, and a line of suitable steamships from here to Levuka should be encouraged. The refinery is the most important, because the business of refining cannot he conducted on a small scale, and there is not room for more than one in the whole colony.