THE FEDERATION OUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 19, 21 January 1901, Page 2

THE FEDERATION OUESTION.

NEW ZEALAND AND KIJL PECULIAR DEVELOPMENTS. | [PBB PKESB ASSOCIATION.] Received 21, 1.18 a.ta. Sydney, January 20. The citizans and members of the Suva and Fiji Fuderal League wrote rf questing Mr Seddoa to convey to the Government of the Commonwealth » their congratulations on ite inauguration and their regret at not being re* presonted on such an historic occasion. i A nitive of Nansori wrote the Qo- v vernment of Fiji refusing to do any more work at road repairing unless at was paid forjit. The Chairman of the Federal League forwarding a copy of the letter to Mr, Seddon states that he had advised the natives to go back to their homes and wait quietly for a reply. It is from such a matter as this thai a rising might feo apprehended, TW natives were informed th*t«very tSM is being made u ibh the help of New Zealand to bring about a change of Government. In another letter from the Federal League it is pointed out that the Governors action in ordering at. the opening of the hospital should bo read in every village of the colony is causing a peiious feeling to be engendered iu tlio minds of the native* against the whites of the colony, especially ag.nnsh those in any way connected with New Zeahud, The Governor is a'ill seudingofficial! to various districts to hold meetings. The Federation League entreats Mr, Srddon to use his influence to pt*< vent the continued circulation of the slanders by the Governor against the whites and New Zealand and suggest < telegraphing to the Stcretary for the colonies on the subject 1 . A letter from a leading personage ia Fiji urges the removal of Govern«r j O'Brien as be is not only opposed to | closer union of Fiji with New Zealand ? but also to the exclusion of Now Zsa- j land's influence amongst the Islands. O'Brien regards the strictures of the press in New Zealand and Australia u ; evidence of the moral nature of the j blow he has struck at what he terms j the impudent aspira< ions of th* Premier of New Zealand. The writer prediota that while in this frame of miod O'Brien will probably be most mischievous in the Pacific.

, There is reason to believe he intend* te instruct tho Deputy Commissioner ! at Tonga to circulate confidentially hia j speech at the hospital opening. Then ' } | js no doubt o'Brian will be strongly ! hacked in Eng'and by Lord Stanmore, I formerly St Arthur Gordon, and tho 1 Kxeter Hall party, but he trusts that S the sarrifices made by New Zealand in I tho cau.se of the Empire will have the 1 effect of strengthening Mr. Seddon to ,1 obtain the removal of the Governor. J The writar asks them to secure the jfl co-operat'on of tho Premiers of Aug- M tralia. (because these elandets a«ect 1 Australia, and will spread to the New I Hebrides and Solomons, where Fijian fl is the lingua franca. Jn reference to 9 a ]'i'op(is;ii to send as a deputation Mr 9 Sladi;, the latter, in a letter to Mr. Sfitdoii. -"lat.es his clnnrh will 1 accede :•> the demand of tho Govenß | 3 I'!'* removal, and the lrift.fr wc« 1 from the position ho ■ 1 j i:iL 11 njj 1:1' ir-sueuu onlcr in Coulf 'i tho arre.-t of Hindu if |, H <l| 1 1 1.0 latter; S'.ade ii-k'hde Ito destroy S |i |:i't Ul.> (iuvermir to ert«>r ; 3 "d mi;., sm l.ira. The writer also ""'I -into* 'hat the Governor eoutinims t>) rd ir>l,nAi and einpli:isis,, iiin slandet* gn ■ 3 New Zealand throughout the group. X If :i j'lejKr ri:foi'i;i,dua) oftht lativm M wrv,j ? :i.!< r ;t . t.hoy would he he declared , fjG Imin/.-ly f<, r federation' not jfl l ent they understand it but bicau M !11 ttiuy ba*> sufl. red so greatly undor the IS i>.<.!-er>t u:;iuif>. - tfll