NRS-4522 | Despatches to and from Governor of Fiji

The Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson, presided over the cession of Fiji to Britain in 1874 and acted as provisional Governor of Fiji until the arrival of Sir Arthur Gordon in June 1875. These despatches are concerned with the cession of the country and its administration from Sydney during the following months. 4/1633 consists of loose papers being original despatches with some enclosures. Included are schedules of despatches from the Governor of New South Wales to the Administrator of Fiji, November-December 1874; a petition from the Polynesia Company re lands promised to them by the King of Fiji, 14 September 1874; address of welcome from Municipal Council of Levurka; correspondence from Chief Secretary's Department, Fiji, giving advice re cession; drafts of the Instrument of cession; communications from U.S. and German Consuls 29 September 1874; despatches from Robinson to Acting Administrator, E.L. Layard, 14 October 1874 conveying instruction for the administration of the colony pending the formation of a permanent constitution; address of loyalty from Wesleyan Ministers to Governor, October 1874; despatches from D. Wilkinson about the progress of native affairs and opinions October 1874; Fiji Government Gazette No.3, 14 October 1874; and correspondence between Governor and Administrator Layard on general matters including arrangements for the loan of £1000 in silver coin to Fiji, and Polynesian labourers. 4/1654 is a letterbook containing copies of despatches from Robinson to Layard on administrative matters. They are often copies of the originals in 4/1633. Only brief descriptions of enclosures are noted. (4/1633, 4/1654). 1 vol, 1 box. Note:This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.