THE FIJIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 987, 29 October 1870, Page 18

THE FIJIS.

TO THE EDITOS.

Sib — Referring to an article in your issue of last week, in which you treat on the importance of the Fijian trade to our community, and the advantage of having a more direct communication with these and contiguous islands, I no w beg to submit a plan which might, if properly carried out, give a good opening to hundreds in this province who have very small available means and do not care to sacrifice their property. If a com pany were formed with a prospectus similar ito what 1 will now suggest, 1 think it would .answer the purpose :— I. That it is desirable to raise from L2OOO to LSOOO, or more, in LlO shares j half to tie paid up for the obj-ct of buying a vessel, in part or whole, to trade in Fij an and adjoining waters. 2 As aa inducement to get the trade, the company might probably compete with other partieß oa snch terms as they would be in a position to (ffer. 3. That a certain amount per cent, be de posited on each share when taken up, as a guarantee of good faith, and that such de posit be lodged in a bauk to the credit) of the company. 4. That a committee be chosen by the shareholders foi the purpose of managing the Company, not exceeding eleven in. number. 5 That such committee manage the whole business, and any decision they come to to be fio&l 6. That every shareholder be entitled to a vote, to nominate the committee individually, for each share he holds. 7. That the period of departure from Otago for Fiji be not later than March next. 8. That part of the balance of payment on Bhares taken up be called for at any time for the obj ct of purchasing cargo or for other necessary expenses 9 That e< me of the Committee should accompany the vessel, and while trading, look out for land wt-ll situated commercially, andhaving desirable necessities, as a haroour, wood, water, gnod soil. &c. 10. That if such land b* got with a good title, arrangements t>e made to convey such shareholders as might wish to settle there. 11. That the i alance due on the shares be oalled up to pay for the land and provide

tools, implements, and food for the settle* ment.

1 2. That the land purchased bo surveyed and divided according to the number of shares each shareholder has proportionately. It might be more beneficial to rent land from the natives than to purchase ; and as I hear that a lease of 50 years is . gener lly given at one shilling per acre per year, per* haps these conditions would suit the Company. But I think that land can be bought for less than that amount per annum, right out, the only objection being its out-of-the-way position at present, which would not long be the c*se after the settlement wm tffected. After the shareholders had got tolerably se tied, the Committee oould send for their families who might wish to come, and the public would at the same time bo offered land on favourable terms which oould compete at advantage with the already settled parts of Fiji. Thus in a very short time a settled community could be establiahed.

i Concerning the feasibility of some suoh plan there can be no doubt. The trade in I labour, &c, though sure to be competed for, will nevertheless pay the Company, as the fact of its bringing population to the islands in the event of land being acquired, wonld incline the public in its favour. But there is little doubt that the required land could soon be got, either by purchase or lease, for a long term, when the Company's vessel would be kept active on their own account more essentially. If no land was found suitable, the Company would be in a favourable position in a tracing or passenger traffic, and alwayß be ia better favour than private enterprises of the same nature. There is a popular prejudice against public companies, as so many undertakings of such character have fai'ed. This is, however, no reason why one snch as 1 propose I should also fail, and 1 can give a few reasons to carry out my argument why a publio company is more likely to succeed in every i way than a private one, which occur to me at present. Not that I deprecate private enterprise ; hut I think in this case a public one is better both to get up and to work. In the first place, the capital required conld be more easily raised. Secondly, numbers could seitle where a few could not well venture, as the latter would be isolated, and perhaps in a dangerous position. On that account land would be got for less than in the already- settled places, where a few private persons would have to go. Thirdly, in a well organised company, suoh as I p opose, everyone mußt work together by strict agreement, to be enforced if necessary. Fourthly, the fact of numbers being in 'he speculation would induce the people in Fiji to encourage the undertaking so as to iucrea3e their population ; and, fifthly, it would be a public benefit, both to those who engage in it and those who stay here, and also to the Fijian population generally. I have mentioned the advantages in a settling point of view, as numbers in such cases are desirable, as long as the land is large enough to remunerate ««h for his investment. But even in the trading alone, a large, well governed Company is bitter than a few private individuals in partne r ßhip. 1 am well aware that numberless impossibilities may be hinted at against this or some , similar scheme, but I always find such objections without reasons to back them— mere assertions, which when inquired into, prove often only what might happen, not what would most likely happen. Hints on jointstock companies never holding together are frequent. Yet I feel convinced good management and honesty are the grand requisites, and such must be praotißed,p r aotiBed, or the best speculation on earth will fall through. I would also add my belief that strict discipline is also necessary, in colonial Companies especially, so that the proper management cannot he interfered with. lam indebted to many of my Fiji friends for the foundations of my ideas, and believe that some scheme such as I propose wonld succeed and be the means of placing many good, but unfortunate men in a favourable position. It suits all classes, and would pay the larger capitalist as well as the poor man who has only LlO to lay out. la conclusion, I may mention that there is plenty of goo ' land to be got cheap, whatever may be said to the contrary, and the sooner the best of it is taken up the better. Before long all the islands in the Paoifio worth anything will be occupied, and even now the owners of land in the more settled part ß of Fiji will not part with it in some caseH under h<lf as much as it cos's here. From five to ten shil ings an acre is asked and expected. Waen we consider that those men bought this land for as many peace per acre, why should we not go and do likewise? The Sydney and Melbourne people are fast taking up the best places, and snatohing away the trade we might have monopolised, or at least shared in. The islands on or near the route to San Francisoo must necessarily soon become important. As I have identified myself intimately with the subject of this letter on several occasions, «nd am willing to |-ut my available capital into it. and so help to reduce the proposal to practice, I should be glad to correspond with or meet anyone who would join suoh a scheme, or hear aav iieas pro or con, bearing on the subject. It is essentially, a publio undertaking, and at the same time. I feel pretty confident will lead to substantial benefit for all engaged in the enterprise, whether it is confined to trading alone, or to'bat object, leading subs- qu«-ntly to the acquisition of land also.— l «.m *a, Maori Hill. W. B. Yaldwyn.

A portion of a human sku 1 has been picked up at the Teviot by some miners.