The Waka Maori. WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1874. ANNEXATION OF FIJI.

Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 25, 15 December 1874, Page 308

The Waka Maori. WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1874. ANNEXATION OF FIJI.

Our Maori readers are aware that the islands of Fiji have been ceded to Her Majesty the Queen. The following is a condensed account of the proceedings as reported in the Fiji Argus:The instrument of cession was signed at Nasova, on Saturday, the 10th of October last, by King Cakobau and the high chiefs of the nation. The hereditary owners and occupiers of the soil voluntarily and unconditionally ceded and signed away full sovereignty and dominion over the islands, and the inhabitants thereof, to Sir Hercules Greorge Robert Robinson, the Queen's Special Commissioner, who accepted the same on behalf of Her Majesty. The Fijian banner was lowered to the ground and extinguished for ever, and the Royal Standard of England was hoisted in its place. The British war ships " Pearl" and " Dido " were anchored in close proximity to the Government buildings. Numbers of armed sailors and soldiers, and officers in full uniform, were debarked from these vessels to do honor to the ceremony. A strong detachment of marines, and another of sailors, took up a position on the southern side of the quadrangle in front of the building. A detachment of Native troops, under Captain Blackmore, faced them on the northern side. The band of the "Pearl" was also in attendance, and the whole force was under the command of Captain Chapman, of H.M.S. " Dido."

A little after 2 o'clock, there being then a very large number of the inhabitants of Fiji assembled, Sir Hercules Robinson, accompanied by Commodore Goodenough, left the " Pearl," and received the Governor's salute of seventeen guns. On landing, His Excellency, accompanied _by his suite, immediately proceeded to the reception-room of the building, wherein were already assembled Cakobau and the leading chiefs of Fiji, and a number of European gentlemen and Government officers. The Governor, the King, and Commodore Goodenough then took their teats; every one else remained standing. The instrument of cession (which was in duplicate) was then read over, in the Fijian language, by the Government interpreter, Mr. Wilkinson, and the whole of the chiefs signed and sealed the same. This having been done, it was at once signed by the Governor—one copy being handed by the King to Sir Hercules, and the other handed by His Excellency to the King. Thus, so far, the act of cession was completed. An incident of great interest here took place. At the time the late Fijian Parliament was in its full bloom and vigour, a mace, an insignia of its authority, had been manufactured in Sydney. This mace is made of the King's own war club, and is beautifully ornamented with scrolls, in solid silver, frosted, of palm leaves and other emblems of the tropical productions of Fiji, and surmounted by a noble crown. By direction of the King, this most elegant trophy was taken out of its mahogany casket and laid before Sir Hercules, and, at the King's request, Mr. Thurston explained to the Governor, that, in accordance with ancient usage, His Majesty was desirous of presenting to Queen Victoria a mark of his submission, and of his love in offering his allegiance, and in conforming to a new and better state of things in the history of his country. It had occurred to him that his_ own war club, which, before Christianity and civilization prevailed, was the only law the country was ruled by—and had long been the only code the people knew—would not be unacceptable to Her Majesty, who would see, by the emblems of peace it bore, the great change that had taken place in Fiji. Mr. Thurston further remarked that the token now offered had been prepared for the Parliament of Fiji, and trusted that Sir Hercules Robinson would forward it to Her Majesty as a present from the King. Sir Hercules requested Mr. Thurston to tell the King that he should forward his present to Queen Victoria, and also an account of its history, and he was sure Her Majesty would receive it with great interest. The signing being over, His Excellency and suite, &c., proceeded to the verandah of the building, and took up a front position in view of the assembled multitude ; King Cakobau standing on the Governor's left hand, and Commodore Goodenough on his right. His Excellency then said:—" The legal forms for the transfer of the government of this country to the Queen have just been completed, and will be made

public through the medium of the Gazette in the course of a few hours. It now, therefore, only remains for me to declare Fiji to be from this time forth a possession and a dependency of the British Crown. (Loud cheers.) I fervently trust that this important step will tend to develop the great natural capabilities of these beautiful islands, and at the same time conduce largely to the contentment and happiness of all classes of the population. (Applause.) I hope, too, that past differences and disagreements will henceforth be forgotten, and that all local animosities will this day be buried at the foot of the staff on which we are now about to hoist the British flag." (Loud cheers.) At a signal from the Governor, one of the seamen of the Pearl lowered the Fijian flag, and hoisted the flag of England, which waved for the first time over the Isles of Fiji. Then three stentorian cheers burst from the assembled multitude ; the troops presented arms; the band played the National Anthem of England; and the flag was saluted by the booming of twenty-one guns from the " Pearl." The ceremony was complete. Three cheers were then given for the Queen, and three for Cakobau. The two vessels of war afterwards proceeded with Sir Hercules, the King, and the leading chiefs to Loma Loma, (another island,) the residence of Maafu and 'Tui Cakau, two great and powerful chiefs, second only to the King himself in rank and influence. These chiefs came on board the " Pearl" and signed the instrument of cession. "We give below copies of the instruments of cession and acceptance, translated into the Maori language; and, in doing so, we particularly direct the attention of the Maoris of New Zealand to clause 4 of the deed of cession, by which the " absolute proprietorship " of all waste latids is declared to be " vested in her said Majesty,her heirs, and successors showing that this intelligent, warlike, and numerous people (their number being nearly treble that of the Maoris of New Zealand), consider the protection and friendship of a powerful-nation, like the English, of infinitely greater value to them than all the waste lands in their country—lands of which they could make no use, which had ever been a source of quarrel and contention among themselves, and which might possibly, in the future, become a temptation to some alien race. I. Copt of Resolution of Thakohbatt, Tui Yiti, and Vunivalu, and other high Chiefs of Fiji, in Council assembled, handed by them to His Excellency Sir Hercules G-eoeg-e Robebt Robinson, at an interview held at Nasova, on Wednesday, the 30th September, a.d. 1874. Unto Her Majesty Queen of Britain— We, King of Fiji, together with other high chiefs of Fiji, hereby give our country, Fiji, unreservedly to Her Britannic Majesty, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland; and we trust and repose fully in her, that she will rule Fiji justly and affectionately, that we may continue to live in peace and prosperity. Aiid we, desiring these conferences may terminate well and

satisfactorily, request Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador unto us, Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, "will confer 'with our advisers, who have our confidence in these matters. (Signed) Cakobatt R. D. Wilkinson, Chief Interpreter. 11. InSTEXTirENT of Cession of the Islands of Fiji by Thakombau, styled Tui Viti and Vunivalu, and by the other high Chiefs of the said Islands, to Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of G-od of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c.,&c., &c. Whereas divers subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland have from time to time settled in the Fijian Group of Islands, and have acquired property or certain pecuniary interests therein; And whereas the Fijian chief Thakombau, styled Tui Viti and Vunivalu, and other high chiefs of the said islands, are desirous of securing the promotion of civilization and Christianity, and of increasing trade and industry within the said islands : And whereas it is obviously desirable in the interests as well of the native as of the white population, that order and good government should be established therein : And whereas the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs have conjointly and severally requested Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland aforesaid to undertake the government of the said islands henceforth : And whereas, in order to the establishment of British government within the said islands, the said Tui Viti and other the several high chiefs thereof, for themselves and their respective tribes, have agreed to cede the possession of, and the dominion and sovereignty over, the whole of the said islands, and over the inhabitants thereof, and have requested her said Majesty to accept such cession—which cession the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs, relying upon the justice and generosity of her said Majesty, have determined to tender unconditionally—and which cession on the part of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs is witnessed by the execution of these presents, and by the formal surrender of the said territory to her said Majesty; And whereas His Excellency Sir Hercules G-eorge Robert Robinson, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor, Commander-in-Chief, and Vice-Admiral of tho British Colony of New South Wales and its dependencies, and Governor of Norfolk Island, hath been authorized and deputed by her said Majesty to accept on her behalf the said cession: Now these presents witness — 1. That the possession of, and full sovereignty and dominion over, the whole of the group of islands in tho South Pacific Ocean, known as the Fijis (and lying between the parallels of latitude of fifteen degrees south, and twenty-two degrees south of the equator, and between the meridian of longitude of one hundred and seventy-seven degrees west, and one hundred and I seventy-five degrees east of the meridian of Greenwich), and over tho inhabitants thereof, and over all ports, harbours, havens, roadsteads, rivers, estuaries, and others and all reefs and foreshores, within or adjacent thereto, are hereby ceded to, and accepted on behalf of, her said Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, her heirs and successors, to the intent that from this time forth the said islands, and the waters, reefs, and other places as aforesaid, lying within or adjacent thereto, may be annexed to, and be a possession and dependency of, the British Crown. 2. That the form or constitution of Government, the means of the maintenance thereof, and the laws and regulations to be administered within the 6aid islands, shall be such as Her Majesty shall prescribe and determine. 3. That, pending the making by Her Majesty as aforesaid, of some more permanent provision for the government of the said islands, His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, in pursuance of the powers in him vested, and with tho consent and at the request of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs, the ceding parties hereto, shall establish such temporary or provisional government as to him shall seem meet. 4. That the absolute proprietorship of all lands, not shown to be now alienated, so as to have become bond fide the property of Europeans or other foreigners, or not now in the actual use or occupation of some chief or tribe, or not actually required for the probable future support and maintenance of some chief or tribe, shall be and is hereby declared to be vested in her said Majesty, her heirs and successors. 5. That Her Majesty shall have power, whenever it shall be deemed necessary for public purposes, to take any lands upon payment to the proprietor of a reasonable sum by way of compensation for tho deprivation thereof.

6. That all the existing public buildings, houses, and offices, all enclosures and other pieces or parcels of land now set apart or being used for public purposes, and all stores, fittings, and other articles now being used in connection with such purposes are hereby assigned, transferred, and made over to her said Majesty. 7. That on behalf of Her Majesty, His Excellency Sir Hercules G-eorge Robert Eobinson promises—(l.) That the rights and interests of the said Tui Yiti and other high chiefs °the ceding parties hereto, shall be recognized so far as is consistent „ tlsh - SoTe reignty and colonial form of government. (2.) That all questions of financial liabilities and engagements shall be scrutinized, and dealt with upon, principles of justice and sound public policy. (3.) That all claims to titles of land, by whomsoever preferred, and all claims to pensions or allowances, whether on the part of the said Tui Yiti and other high chiefs or of persons now holding under them or any of them, shall m due course be fully investigated and equitably adjusted. In witness whereof, the whole of the contents of this instrument of cession having been, previously to the execution of the same, interpreted and explained to the ceding parties hereto by David Wilkinson, Esquire, the interpreter nominated by tho said Tui Yiti and the other high chiefs and accepted as such interpreter by the said Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, the respective parties hereunto set their hands and seals. Done at Levuka, this tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventvfour. . J (Sgd.) Cakobau R., Tui Yiti and Yunivalu (is) Maaeu >, g < Tui Cakau / ls '\ Ratu Epeli fas') Yakavaxetabua, Tui Bua ( l ' s \ SAVENACA IsiKELI (l.'s!) Roko Tui Dbeketi (l!s.) Naca&ilevu (1.5.) Ratu Kini (^'gX Ritova (1.5.) ELatuniveee (1.5.) Matanitobua (l!s!) (Sgd.) Heecules Robinson (x,is!) I hereby certify that, prior to the execution of the above instrument of cession, which execution I do hereby attest, I fully and faithfully interpreted and explained to the ceding parties hereto, the whole of the contents of the said document (the several interlineations on page line and on page line of the manuscript having been made), and that such contents were fully understood and assented to by the said ceding parties. Prior to the execution of the said instrument °f t cession, I wrote out an interpretation of the same in the Fijian language, which interpretation I read to the several chiefs, who, one and all, approved thereof. A copy of such interpretation is hereto annexed, marked A. Dated this 10th day of October, a.d. 1874. (Signed) D. Wilkinson, Chief Interpreter.