THE FIJI ISLANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 567, 11 October 1862, Page 8

THE FIJI ISLANDS.

(Fiom the Daily Times, October 4.) The force ot the old adage " a burnt child dreads the fire," has been fully demonstrated in the decision arrived at by the Home Government in respect to the Fiji Islands. The refusal by the British Government of the profl'erred sovereignty of one of the finest groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean, affording admirable facilities for a naval station, will cause more surprise to the subjects of Louis jSTapoleon than it will to the people of Great Britain. The fear of repeating the New Zealand experiment has doubtless been tho actuating cause. It is certain that Great Bi"i tvin will not again rasnly take upon her hcuub the management and control of a race of savages. The elements which have proved so disastrous to the success of the policy of a civilized Government amongst the Maories of ]N r ew Zealand, exist in an aggravated form in the Fijis. The geographical conditions of the islands interpose many difficulties in the way of governing a populous race of aboiiginal inhabitants. The Fijis consist of a very numerous group of islands, for the most sort thickly populated by a fierce and cannibal race. Although acknowledging in some part a head chief, or Tui Viti, the tribes inhabiting the different groups are continually at war with each other and amongst themselves. The natives of the Fijis appear to posvess a great many of the peculiarities of the aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand. Their language is somewhat similar, and a groat many of their customs are identical. They are brave and warlike, and are largely endowed with the treachery, and suspicion common to almost every savage race. The Fiji Islands have been frequented by Europeans for many years, but chiefly by the crows of American whaling ships and trading vessels from the islands in the Pacific, and a sort of semi- colonization of part of the i;nmp lias been carried on, but with very indiluront success. The uncertain tenure of l;i;i:l, and the utter absence of law or order prevented anything like settled occupation. A: though the fertility of the Islands, and tiicir natural advantages, held out great inch cements to adventurous colonists, their dibits* have been opposed and defeated by the wilted influence of the resident Europeans and tho Misssionaries. The former, in whose hands the trade of the Islands has chiefly been confined, used every means of keeping out settlers who might interfere with their profits. The Missionaries, jealous of their influence over the minds of the Natives, and disliking anything which might tend to injure their schemes of evangelization, threw every possible difficulty in die way of the settlers. Possessing great iu'luence over the minds of the natives, the missionaries dissuaded them as much as possible from parting with their land, and foolishly instilled in the natives a distrust of the honest intentions of the settlers.' Probably also there were certain considerations of a more merci nary character which made it the interest of the missionaries to discourage the colonization of the Fyis, for some of them arc said to have driven a very profitable trade in the disposal of the oil, cotton, fruit and other products of the islands.

Certain circumstances occurred some three years ago which induced the Sovereign Chief of the Fijis to tender the sovereignty of the islaads to the British Government. We are indebted for a detail of those circumstances, to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald. It appears that a certain American captain, named JBoutwell, the fcommander of the United States ship of war, John Adams, had made a most unjust demand for the payment of 45,000 dollars, for some alleged loss to American subjects, owing to the interference of the Missionaries. As the writer in the Sydney Morning Herald justly remarks, the conduct of this American captain appears to have been' more that of a pirate than of an officer of a civilised Government. To punish, as he says, " the interference of the "Missionaries," Captain Boutwell makes an extravagant demand upon the unoffending Chief, and accompanies that demand by threats of personal vengeance. As an instance .of the illegality of the claim, it is stated that one original claim of 5000 dollars has been raised to 18,000 dollars. Fearful of his life, and wishing to escape from the dilemma in which he wasjplaced, Tha Kombau, the Tui Viti, or Sovereign Chief, made a formal offer of the sovereignty of the islands to the Crown of Great Britain — the principal condition being that the British Government should pay the 45,000 dollars demanded by Captain Boutwell. This offer was, at first, favorably received by the British Government ; but, however desirable the acquisition of the islands migh} have been, it was hardly to be supposed that tho Government would take advantage of the peculiar position of their native sovereign. Accordingly it was resolved that a commissioner should be despatched to the Fijis for the purpose of reporting as to the desirability, or otherwise of accepting the government of the islands. Colonel Smythe, the officer appointed for this purpose, sailed from Auckland in a small schooner sometime about June 1860, arrived safely at the Fijis, and at once set about his mission After a rather, protracted stay in the islands, Colonel Smythe made his report to the Government. His opinion is, that at present it would not be expedient for the British Government to accept the proffered sovereignty of the Fiji Islands, and the only extension of the British protection which he recommends as, that there should be additional resources placed at the command of the Consulate. He reports favorably of the resources of the islands, and of the natives themselves, who ?i appears have been considerably humanized by the exertions of the missionaries. The character of the Europeans living on the islands iS described as being very unsatisfactory. However politic, in one -sense, the decision of Her Majesty's Government may be, it is, we think, much to be regretted that the sovereignty of the Fiji, Islands has not been accepted. If the cession had not been trammelled by doubtful conditions, and if care had been taken not to impose undesirable 'responsibilities on the British Government," we cannot see what difficulties wcik to be Reared. The peculiar position » of the Fijis, their natural importance, render it- extremely probable that they will sooner or later . fall into the possession of some' European ppwei', aid it were better, they,, should belong to England than France. No "slight considerations would' stand' in*- the y <. vf&f ■ of the latter power acqeepting ; the Islands.They would form too admirable an addition to New Caledonia to be cast aside.- ' As a post of observation and naval station, the Fijis offer great advantages, and' it would be very undesirable to see them in the hands of a rival power. The Sydney Morning .Herald^inclines to the opinion that " the causes which; compelled the " British Government, however' reluctantly* "to accept the. sovereignty; of NeW Zealand, " will, ,'in th 6 long ,run r l prevait 'in ihe Fijis."' These causes, s .Hxer.ymter assumes, iwill be found in* the ,s gradual increase 'of the white population; whidh, iJ bdng fiesto&ined by no recognised authority,' $ill i*6nder/itjurij)era.j:tve for the Government s 6 inierferiß/or'tnesak'eof law and order. $uch may probahly, be thecaee and it is therefore more -to ;be regretted; that 1 the step -is r not r taken libw.' : " PreVention " is better thanj cure," and, the establishment, of a properly rqcogni^e'd fbdj constituted!; authority, -jom the Fjjisr'now, would againstthose 'scandals and disorders which the

earlier - history of Ne ( vv Zealand furnished. Asia mer£ Acquisition/, pf ' territory;. , the Jfiji, Islands possess flto.extraordina^yjyalwe. 1 r"Fer n r , tile they are;-, and aret^royediiitad)© capabl^: o£ growing- excellent'i-'coUonf^' tbbaeco, '^offe6,

spices, and other tropical products to perfection, but large portions of the Australian continent can do the same, and therefore the simple possession of the islands would be no great acquisition. But as a matter of policy, if only to prevent their falling into the hands of France, we think the acceptance of the Fiji Islands, would have been a wise step on the part of the British Government, and through their refusal we may see the Fijis slip out of our hands into those of the French as Tahiti did. With New Caledonia, the Fijis and Tahiti, the position of the French in the Pacific would be a strong one, and would place it in their power in the event of a war to inflict great injuries upon British commerce in these waters.