Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/423

 1989.] Fiji. — Polynesia. [415

the Austrian Government led to the stoppage of this class of foreign immigrants.

Sir Robert Stout, once a leading politician and opponent of Mr. Seddon, was appointed Chief Justice in place of Sir John Prendergast, who resigned.

The Colonial Registrar-General estimated the total wealth of the colony in this year at 252,000,000Z., of which the property owned by private individuals was over 200,000,000Z.

New Zealand was not behind her Australian sisters in zeal for the imperial cause. The enthusiasm aroused by the war in South Africa was quite as ardent in Auckland and in Wellington as in Sydney or Melbourne, and the offers of military assistance were no less liberal or spontaneous. A New Zealand contingent was despatched to the Cape of Good Hope in November to take part in the war against the Boers, amidst the applause of all classes of colonists, including the Maoris. Mr. Seddon himself was conspicuous for the patriotic fervour of his language in referring to England's call for the help of her colonies.

Fiji. — The year was one of great prosperity for Fiji. The colony was progressing steadily, with an ever-growing com- merce and an increase in all the branches of industry. The total revenue for 1898 was 94,164Z., being nearly 20,000Z. above the expenditure. Nothing happened to disturb the public tranquillity in what is claimed to be the healthiest of all British tropical possessions. An enumeration of the people gave a total of 3,927 Europeans, with 12,320 Indians, subjects of her Majesty. The indigenous population, as everywhere in the South Seas, was slowly declining.

Polynesia. — The outbreak of a fresh civil war in Samoa, a recrudescence of the old quarrel between Mataafa and the rightful King, Malietooa, was the principal event of the year, causing very serious trouble and threatening a breach of the tripartite arrangement under which the islands are governed. A decision given by the Chief Justice, Mr. Chambers, in favour of the son of Malietooa as King was violently resented by the partisans of Mataafa. Severe fighting took place between the adherents of the respective parties, in the neighbourhood of Apia, the Mataafans being in the majority. The English and Americans sided with Malietooa, who had undoubtedly the best right to the throne according to Samoan law and custom, a right affirmed by the only competent legal authority, the Chief Justice. The Germans as before espoused the cause of Mataafa, although refraining from any active participation in the hosti- lities. A party of blue-jackets from the English and American men of war were landed to preserve the peace. They were attacked by a greatly superior force of the native insurgents, and forced to retreat to their boats, with the loss of two Ameri- can and one English officer killed and many men wounded. The British and American ships bombarded Apia on March 25