TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4255, 9 November 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

LATER NEWS FROM FIJI. ARRIVAL OP THE STAR OF THE SOUTH. [Press Telegraph Agency.] ■ Auckland, Saturday. Mr. G. M. O’Rorke has joined the Provincial Executive, taking the office vacant by the death of Mr. Beveridge, the Provincial Solicitor. Mr. O’Rorke does not take the title, but it is understood that he wiU'do the Provincial Solicitor’s work . The barque Speedwell has arrived at Kaipara from Lyttelton, after a voyage of fortytwo days. It was stated at the meeting of the Board of Health to-day that the immigrants by the ship Hydaspes would probably be released in the course of eight or ten days. The vessel will be fumigated immediately and then brought up to the wharf. A largely attended public meeting has been held, at which resolutions were passed, urging the Government to devote the £25,000 granted to the province last session to the purpose of education, in lieu of the tax now being collected. Sunday. The steamer Star of the South has arrived. She left Levuka on the Ist inst., with a full cargo of maize, peanuts, cotton, copra, sugar (eighty-three bags), and fruit. She brings several passengers. , The annexation of the-islands to Great Britain was concluded on the 10th inst., at Nasova, when the British flag was hoisted, and the deed of cession signed by the contracting parties. H.M.S. Pearl and Dido were anchored close in shore. The officials present included Sir Hercules Robinson and King Cakobau, the leading chiefs of Fiji, the Attorney-General of New' South Wales, the members of the new Executive Council, Mr Justice Garrick, the Attorney-General of Fiji, the Mayor of Levuka, and the foreign Consuls. After being signed, copies of the deed were presented to the King and His Excellency. Cakobau then presented to Sir Hercules Robinson -a war-club decorated with palm leaves, as an emblem of peace, and a token of submission to the Queen. It will be sent to Her Majesty. Before the hoisting of the flag, Sir Hercules Robinson explained to the people from the balcony what had been done, and proclaimed Fiji a dependency of the Crown, amid cheers He then expressed a hope that all animositi would be buried at the foot of the staff which was now. hoisted the British ■! Lieutenant Elwyu, of the Pearl, then ho the ensign, which was cheered heartily, 1 saluted with twenty-one guns from the PeThe deed of cession sets forth that a numi. of British subjects having settled in Fiji, an the chiefs being desirous of promoting civilisation, Christianity, and industry, and as it is obviously desirable for white as well as native population, Tui Vitu and other high chiefs conjointly and severally requested the Queen to undertake the government of the islands for the future; that Tui Yitu and other high chiefs and tribes, relying on the justice and generosity of Queen Victoria, tender her the sovereignty unconditionally ; which cession is witnessed by the execution of these presents, and the formal surrender of territory. The form of constitution and laws shall be such as Her Majesty shall prescribe. All unoccupied lauds and alienated lands not in occupation of or required for the use of chiefs or tribes, shall become the absolute property of the Queen, and also all land and buildings now in use as public offices, and the Queen has the right of taking any land required on payment of reasonable compensation. Sir Hercules Robinson, on behalf of the Queen, accepted the sovereignty on the terms that the rights of the chiefs should be recognised, so far as was consistent with the good of the colony. The financial engagements of the King to be scrutinised and dealt with on just principles. All claims for titles or pensions to be finally investigated and adjusted. Signed—Cakobau, Maafu, and the other leading chiefs. -The following officers have been appointed;— Mr. Layard, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Administrator of the Government ; Mr. Thurston, Colonial Secretary; Mr. Horton, Treasurer ; Mr. Swanston, Secretary of Native Affairs ; Mr. Times, a member of the Executive Council. The schooner Ivanhoe, which left Auckland for Levuka on the 26th August, had not arrived when the Star left. It is considered certain that she has foundered with all hands. Captain Stuart was master. New Zealand quotations of Fiji sugar are considered encouraging. Mr. WhaUey, an official of the late Government, and two of his friends, were drowned while, going in a boat to the neighboring island. The Times of the 28th speaks highly of Fijian prospects held out by the competition going on for Fiji trade between New Zealand and New South Wales. A son of Cakobau, named William, became demented lately, and tried to set fire to several houses. He clubbed three women, injuring one severely. He was placed under restraint. The barque Metaris sailed for Sydney on the 22nd October, with a cargo of fibre and cocoanuts. Extensive improvements have already been started. At Levuka the construction of a wharf and pier is in contemplation. Naval store-houses are about to be erected. The constitution of the Municipality is unsatisfactory. Provision is being made for the continuance of the local authority by the new Government. A central court was opened formally by Justice Garrick on the 19th October. Grahamstown, Saturday. The gold return of the Bank of New Zealand for the week is 2000ozs. * Mr. James Mackay, jun., has started a party of surveyors on the large block of land recently purchased in the Piako district. He holds a meeting on Monday next for settling up with tho natives for the blocks in Ohinemuri and elsewhere. ' Napier, Saturday. An inquest has been held upon the body of James Marchant, who was killed by a fall of earth at Battery Point. A verdict of accidental death has been returned, but no blame is attributable to any one. The report that tho other man was killed is not correct. New Plymouth, Saturday. Mr. Parris has made arrangements with the natives for the purchase of four hundred thousand acres of land, consisting of five blocks. The land stretches from Waitotara

to that already acquired at the back of the mountain. It is spoken of as being splendid soil. The surveyors are now engaged in surveying the boundaries. Dunedin, Saturday. At the inquest upon the body of the child found near IVXornington on Tuesday, a verdict of murder against some unknown person was returned. Mr. J. X. Gillies, M.P.C., addressed his constituents at Tokomairiro last night, and received a vote of confidence, after which he was presented with a purse containing seventyfive sovereigns by Mr. Clark, M.P.0., on behalf of his constituents. Mr. Gillies said the loan of half a million for making branch railways was refused to the Provincial Government of Otago, because some provinces had not any means of offering security. He admitted the necessity for the abolition of provincial institutions. Delegates from different societies and lodges met the committee of the Working Men's Horae last night, when it was resolved to return Clarke’s and Larnach’s donations, as the club is not to lie formed with the restrictions under which their donations were received. A committee was appointed to form rules for themselves, when the above gentlemen can again offer their subscriptions if they wish. Invercargill, Saturday. An inquest was held to-day on the body of a boy nine years of age, the son of a settler at Waikaioa named Grant. The boy died on Thursday, and as it had been stated that the boy’s death had been accelerated by the teacher of the district school knocking his head against that of another schoolboy, some public interest was felt in the result of the inquiry. The jury, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict of death from natural causes, and the teacher has been completely exonerated.