Colony’s Founder
Com. Goodenough’S
Birthday
Fiji May Celebrate Birthday of Colony’s Founder Written for The Pacific Islands Monthly by Rev. T. N. Deller
AN endeavour is being made in Fiji to celebrate the centenary, on De cember 3, of Commodore Goodenough, R.N., who was born on December 3, 1830, and who is regarded as the “Father of the Colony.”
He was 43 years old when, in 1873, he was appointed to command the Aus tralian station.
His first duty was to proceed to Fiji and there, in conjunction with Mr.
Layard, H.M.’s Consul, report on the advisability of annexation.
Fiji, at that time, was in a state of turmoil. One offer of cession to the British Crown had already been re jected, and an attempt at self-govern-
ment had ended in a fiasco. There were racial, tribal and social conflicts, and the clash of opinions in Fiji made the situation extremely complex.
Goodenough, however, soon won his way, and by his kindness and courtesy endeared himself to white and col oured alike, and they looked to him as a true friend and leader. When all the facts were before him he made up his mind, and said that he regarded the annexation of the Fiji Islands as a positive duty. Mainly through his wise counsel and delicate handling of the situation, Fiji became part of the Bri tish Empire, and is to-day one of the most important British possessions in the Pacific.
Goodenough returned to Australia to report his findings, and while there, unveiled a statue raised to the memory Captain Cook.
After a short cruise in Australian waters, he again sailed for Fiji in the Pearl, taking with him the newly-ap pointed Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon.
This was destined to be his last cruise for, on the return journey, when calling at the Santa Cruz group, he was treacherously attacked at Carlisle Bay, not far from where Bishop Pat teson met the same fate, and died of tetanus a week later on August 20, 1895. He was buried on August 24th at St. Leonard’s Cemetery, North Shore, Sydney, together with two young sea men, who died from wounds received when serving with their leader at Santa Cruz.