THE GOVERNOR OF FIJI AND NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 49, 13 March 1901, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR OF FIJI AND NEW ZEALAND.

PER fPEBBS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, March 11. The Premier has received a copy of the following letter from Mr Ofcamberh in to Sir G. T. O'Rrien, Governor of Fiji, and a'so permission from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to publish it:—" Downirg-strcet, 28th Decamber, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch, No. 87, of 24th October, forwarding a report of your speech to the natives at ths opening of the Wainibokisi Hospital. I fully rccagriise the difficu t' in which you wore placed by the tatics of those who endeavoured to foment discontent amongst the natives to further their schemes for political change, and the desirability of taking prompt action to counteract them. Unfortunately, however, the language used by you on this occasion was open to miscsnstruction, and had been garbled and distorted by the prees summaries so as to give umbrage to the Government of New Zealand. I do not gather from the perunal of your speech that you are fully informed as to the elaborate) and carefully considered measures passed by the Legislature of New Zealand for the protection of the Maori* i against the alienation of their land by placing thora under control of »n inde pendent and impartial Court, while, at the sati.e time, they have been given representation in proportion to their numbers in the Legislature. Whatever may have taken place in early days of New Zealand settlemant, when Maoris were freely allowed to alienate their lands, the result of these measures h«s been that the relations between white and Maori inhabitants of New Zealand are of a most harmonious charaoter, and the Maoris fully appreciate the care and anxiety displayed by the Go vemmeut. aod Legislature of New Zealand fur the protection of tbiir in eres's and consorvaviou of their la.url*. I have too much confidence in your discretion to thiok that you would willingly use language which could be regarded as an unfavourable critioism on an administration of another part of Her Majesty's dominions, and I am sure that you will join with me in regretting that some passage* in your speech were open to misconstruction."