Ecclesiastical.

rich in humic acid. The northern and northwestern sides of the larger island, or leeward sides, are characterised by a comparative absence of forest lands; and here hills or plains are covered with long reeds or grass, and dotted with clumps of Casuarina and Pandanus.

Gold is being mined at Yanawai, near the south coast of Vanualevu Island, and at Tavua in the northern portion of Vitilevu Island, and prospecting operations are in progress in both localities. At Yanawai the gold is associated with barytes, while at Tavua it occurs in altered andesites. 16,955 ounces of gold bullion and 1,184 ounces of silver were exported from the Colony during 1935. A small percentage of silver is found to be associated with the gold in all bullion exported. Copper ore carrying

The Colony of Fiji comprises all islands, rocks, and reefs lying between latitude 15° and 22° S. and between longitude 177° W. and 175° E. It is distant from Sydney about 1,700 miles, and from Auckland 1,100 miles. The Tongan or Friendly Islands lie 180 miles to the south-east, and Samoa 500 miles to the north-east. The French colony of New Caledonia lies to the westward about 700 miles. The number of islands has been variously stated at from 200 to 250; but this includes mere uninhabited rocks and islets.

The dependency of Rotuma consists of all islands, rocks, and reefs between 12° and 15° S., and between 175° and 180° E.

The principal inhabited islands are Viti Levu, 4,053 square miles, Vanua Levu, 2,130 square miles, Taveuni, 217 square miles, Kandavu, 124 square miles, Koro, 58 square miles, Ngau, 45 square miles, and Ovalau, 43 square miles. The total area of the Colony (including Rotumah, 14 square miles) is 7,056 square miles (nearly equal to Wales).

Physical Features.

The more important islands are hilly and mountainous, rising more or less abruptly from the shore to a maximum height of 4,300 feet. The hills are generally of a grand and picturesque outline, being composed for the most part of old volcanic lavas. Upon the south-eastern or windward sides the islands are covered with dense forests. The lower lands are more lightly timbered, and were probably mostly under cultivation at a not distant period when the native population was much larger. On these flats the soil is almost everywhere deep, easily worked, and especially

western portion of Vitilevu, but such deposits have not so far been proved to be payable.

The country is well watered. Frequent rains keep alive the sources of the thousands of small affluents feeding the main rivers. Of these rivers punts, or flat-bottomed steamers, for 40 or 50 miles the Rewa stands first. It is navigable for boats,

from its mouth. Several large streams fall into it, the sources of which lie in the high mountains of the interior 3,000 or 4,000 feet above the level of the sea. Besides these, the Singatoka, the Nandi, and Mba rivers, with many others, drain the principal watersheds of Viti Levu. In Vanua Levu the rivers are not so large, though they are nearly as numerous. The Ndreketi river being first in size is navigable for craft of considerable size for a distance of 15 miles from its mouth. Almost every valley in the group has its stream or brook, from which the native occupants irrigate their plantations of “ndalo " or taro (Calocasia esculenta).

Fiji is as rich in harbours and roadsteads as it is in rivers. Each island is surrounded by a barrier reef, and, with few exceptions, is accessible through siderable valley or river. Between this river and passages usually found opposite to the most conthe shore ships lie safely at anchor, protected by

an indestructible natural break water.

Rotuma.

The Island of Rotuma, situated in 12° 30'S. lat., 177° 10′ E. long., was discovered by the Pandora, in 1793, when searching for the mutineers of the Bounty. Lying to the north-west from two to four miles from the shore, are three small islets, Hattana, Hoflua and Waya. Of these only the last named is inhabited, and it contains but one small village. In 1879 the three principal Rotuma chiefs offered the islands to Great Britain, and they were annexed 13th May, 1881. The population was found at the census of 1936 to number 2,740, of whom two-thirds are Methodists, and the remainder Roman Catholics. The principal island is seven miles long by three miles broad, and contains about 9,000 acres. The staple export is copra.

The natives differ entirely from Fijians in language and in polity. A European Resident Commissioner is the chief executive authority. He also presides over the Rotuma Court of Justice, styled "The Commissioner's Court." The Commissioner's judicial powers are similar to those of a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Fiji and a District Commissioner of the Colony. but special provision is made for the hearing of indictable cases in Rotuma. There are also two Native Stipendiary Magistrates.

The island is divided into seven districts, over each of which is a chief appointed by the

Governor, and is administered by the Resident Commissioner with the assistance of a Council of Chiefs, held monthly. The Council, an advisory body, consists of the Resident Commissioner (Chairman), the seven District Chiefs, two Native Stipendiary Magistrates, the Native Medical Practitioner, and one representative from each district.

A Rotuma Regulation Board consisting of the Resident Commissioner, and between five and ten native Rotumans, makes regulations relating to the good government and well-being of the natives. All such regulations are subject to approval by the Legislative Council of Fiji.

success.

In 1859 Thakombau, the most powerful chief of Fiji, offered the sovereignty of the islands to Great Britain. The offer was declined by the Duke of Newcastle in 1862. About that time the demand for cotton, owing to the American civil war, led to an influx of Europeans into Fiji for the purpose of cotton cultivation. In June, 1871, certain Englishmen set up a Fijian Government, with the principal chief, Thakombau, as king. A constitution was agreed upon, and a Parliament elected. The Parliament and the Government before long drifted into mutual hostility, and the Ministry latterly governed without the aid of the Parlia

ment.

The question of annexing Fiji had been agitated both in Australia and England since 1869 on many grounds, and in 1873, the Earl of Kimberley commissioned Commodore Goodenough, commanding the squadron on the station, and Mr. E. L. Layard, Her Majesty's Consul in Fiji, to investigate and report on the matter. These Commissioners, in 1874, reported an offer of the cession of the sovereignty of the islands from the chiefs, with the assent of the Europeans, but on certain terms which were not acceptable, and Sir Hercules Robinson, the Governor of New South Wales, was despatched to Fiji in 1874 to negotiate. This mission was completely successful, and the sovereignty of the islands was ceded to Her Majesty by Thakombau, the Chief of Mbau, Maafu, who was Chief of the so-called Lau Confederacy, which included not only the Lau Islands, but Taveuni and the greater part of Vanua Levu, and the other principal chiefs, in a deed of cession dated the 10th day of October, 1874. A charter was shortly afterwards issued by Her Majesty, erecting the islands into a separate Colony, and providing for their government.

Levuka, in the island of Ovalau, was at first selected as the European capital, but during the year 1882 the seat of government was transferred to Suva, on the south coast of the island of Viti Levu with a fine harbour. The white population of Suva and its suburbs is estimated at 1,900.

Climate.

The climate of Fiji is oceanic. The south-east trade-wind blows from May to November and during the remaining months the direction of the wind is variable. Between December and April when hot northerly winds blow from the Equator the temperature may occasionally rise as high as 96° and the humidity may reach saturation point. The total average annual rainfall varies in the well defined wet and "dry zones from 60 to 140 inches and the temperature varies from a minimum of 60° to a maximum of 96°.

"

The highest temperature at Suva in 1937 was 94 degrees on January 15th, and the lowest 63 degrees on August 16th. The total rainfall was 106-63. The average annual rainfall is 110-70 inches. There is a great variety of temperature and climate to be found in the group. The rainfall extends over the whole year, but May to October is usually the driest period. Between November and April, the wet season, hurricanes and cyclonic storms occasionally occur, December to March being the months of greatest frequency.

Constitution.

The constitution is now regulated by Letters Patent of 2nd April, 1937. The Executive Council consista of the Governor, the Colonial Secretary, the AttorneyGeneral, the Colonial Treasurer, the Secretary for Native Affairs, the Secretary for Indian Affairs, and two unofficial members nominated by the Governor.

Under the new Letters Patent, the Legislative Council consists of the Governor, 3 ex-officio members (Official), not more than 13 Nominated Official Members, 5 European Members (3 Elected and 2 Nominated), 5 Native Nominated Members and 5 Indian Members (3 Elected and 2 Nominated).

Administration.

A report upon the reorganization of the public services, their administration and the terms and conditions of service was brought into force in 1938.

Native Affairs.

The natives retain a large share of self-government. Their system of village and district councils has been recognised and improved, and supplemented by a triennial meeting of the high chiefs and representatives from each province, presided over by the Governor. There is a Native Regulation Board, constituted under "The Native Affairs Ordinance, 1876," which has power to make regulations with regard to the marriage and divorce of natives, succession to property, the jurisdiction and powers of native courts and magistrates in matters of civil and criminal procedure, and also in regard to other matters having reference to the good government and well-being of the native population. All such regulations have to receive the sanction of the Legislative Council.

The Education Ordinance No. 1 of 1929 constituted the Department of Education and established the Board of Education. The Board consists of the Director of Education and eight other members nominated by the Governor. The Ordinance gives very wide powers to the Board to control all phases of education. The most important are the regis tering of schools and teachers, the allocating of grants-in-aid, the determining of the instruction to be given and to advise the Governor on establishing of education districts. Only two such districts, Suva and Levuka, have been established.

The Education Rating Ordinance No. 18 of 1934 authorises the levying of a special rate in these two districts to meet one-half the net cost incurred by the Government in maintaining Government schools within the limits of the districts.

There are two Grammar Schools for Europeans in Suva, one for boys and one for girls, with hostels attached, and a public school in Levuka, all under Government control. The roll number during 1937 at the Boys' Grammar School, Suva, was 161; at the Girls' Grammar School, Suva (where boys under 8 are taken) 236. The roll in 1937 for the Levuka Public School was 127 (boys and girls).

The Queen Victoria Memorial School at Nasinu, near Suva, is intended to provide for the higher education of natives, and is maintained from public revenue. The number of boys on the roll during 1937 was 80.

Schools for the primary education of Fijians may be conducted by the Methodist, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Seventh Day Adventist Missions, by the Provincial Councils, by any other properly constituted authority or by the Government. Six Provincial Schools have been established by the Government at Lau, Taveuni, Londoni, Kandavu, Nandi and Sawani, in charge of European Headmasters.

At the end of 1937 there were 230 Government and assisted schools, 140 for Fijians, Rotumans, etc., and 66 for Indians, 9 receiving both Fijians and Indians, 15 for Europeans and half castes and 1 for Melanesians.

Returns were also received from 116 recognised schools. The total number of pupils in all schools was 24,974-1,480 Europeans, 16,443 Fijians, Rotumans and Melanesians, 6,936 Indians and 115 Chinese. The estimated expenditure on education for 1938 is 59,0441.

The Bank of New South Wales has branches at

Suva, Levuka and Lautoka, and four agencies; the Bank of New Zealand has a branch at Suva.

Under Ordinance I., of 1907, a Government

Savings Bank was opened in 1908. At the end of 1937 there were 11,358 depositors and 350,6017. in deposits.

Industries, Trade and Customs.

The trade and commerce of the Colony up to 1935 depended for its existence on three staple industries, viz., (1) the cultivation, manufacture, and export of sugar; and (2) of copra (the dried kernel of the coconut); and (3) the growth and export of fruit, principally bananas. Considerable progress has been made in gold mining and in 1936, gold displaced bananas as the third principal export.

The principal exports at the date of the annexation of the Colony were copra, cotton (Sea Island), and maize, but the export of maize was soon displaced by that of sugar. Cotton continued to be the third export in point of value until the year 1882, after which it gradually subsided until the year 1888, when only 34 tons were exported. The cotton industry is again receiving attention. As a result of the Ottawa Conference, Australia now admits 40,000 centals of bananas per year, with a preferential duty of 2s. 6d. per cental, High costs in Australia still provide