The Governor pointed out that the first wants of the Colony were capital and labour. In this he struck a right chord, so far as the interests of the settlers are concerned, and showed that he would not be oblivious of those interests while protecting the rights of the natives. To attract capital they^must have sound land titles, and the applications would be dealt with so soon as the Royal Engineers had arrived, the officer commanding the detach ment being one of the commissioners to settle the claims. All bona fide purchases would be recognised, but Crown grants could not be issued till the surveys were completed. Mean time, wherever there was no ground for dispute a certificate of title would De issued, and this would serve all the purposes of a Crown grant for the time. Labour was another great ques tion. He would tell them at once that he should feel bound to take precautions against abuse in importing Polynesians. The3e pre cautions would involve additional cost, and it was doubtful whether they would not do better to import coolies. He had enquired into this, and found coolies from India would cost nearly £20 for passage money, &c. Their wages would be 5d per day with rations, or lOd per day if they found themselves. They could be got in any number with the consent of the Indian Government, and they would engage for five years certain, with the option of renewing their engagements for five years more if they so desired. These were toe terms on which they already went to other colonies, and on which they would go to Fiji. He proposed that the Government should undertake this immigra tion entirely, and pay one-third of the £20, to be raised by a tax on exports. The traffic would thus be free from abuse, and the supply regulated according to the requirements of the planters. With respect to courts of law, they now had every facility, and were placed in just the came position as all other British Colonies. Roads and interinsular communication would revive bis earnest attention, and. lie h&d

July 27th.
