§ MR. WILLIAM M'ARTHURasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the attention of the Government has been called to a statement in the newspapers that—
The Sovereignty of the Fiji Islands has been formerly ceded by King Thokambau to the British Crown, and that Mr. Layard, the British Consul, has accepted the cession, subject to the ratification of the Home Government:and, whether Her Majesty's Government have received any information on the subject, and will consent to lay upon the Table of the House all Correspondence fom, Her Majesty's representatives in Australia and Fiji and on the Pacific Naval Station, in relation to such cession, and also in regard to the trade still carried on in the Pacific under the name of the labour traffic?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERThe attention of the Government has been drawn to this subject, but they have not received an official confirmation of the telegraphic 545 Statement which has appeared, to the effect that Fiji has been formerly ceded to the Crown. Further Papers, containing the Instructions given by the late Government to the Commissioners appointed to obtain information as to Fiji, will be very shortly laid on the Table. The Report of the Commissioners will probably be received very soon, and will have the immediate attention of Her Majesty's Government. As regards the labour trade, Papers on this subject will also be shortly presented.