Cotton growing - Fiji

Date: [ca 1873-1875]

By: Gaul, John, -1876; Lindt, John William, 1845-1926

Reference: PA1-q-330

Description: Includes views New Zealand, Pacific and Australia, including images of indigenous houses and plantations, and a series of 12 studio tableau portraits of Aboriginal Australians, taken by John William Lindt in 1873-1874. Kai Colo (Fijian people) - name for the people who live in the mountainous interior of Fiji. It's literal meaning is something like "mountaineer". This information was given by Dr Vicki Lukere (Luker), specialist in South Pacific history, Victoria University, 1997. A series of 12 studio tableau portraits of Aboriginal Australians by John Wiiliam Lindt, including three not found in this album, are at Library reference PA1-q-1317 Quantity: 1 album(s). Physical Description: Photograph album. Provenance: Written comments in the album indicate that it might be associated with Commodore J Goodenough RN, who was appointed as a commissioner by the Crown to investigate the events that led to the annexation of Fiji. This album was compiled by an unidentified member of the Australian Division of the Royal Navy based at Sydney in the mid 1870s. The Australian Naval Station was responsible for policing the Pacific and supporting Britain's interests in the region. The one date associated with the album (1875) as well as some of the images, suggest that it was compiled soon after the cession of Fiji to the British Crown. The two ships associated with the album, HMS Blanche and HMS Pearl, were both stationed at Sydney and both were involved with events in Fiji before and during cession. HMS Pearl was Commodore Goodenough's flagship. He was the officer in charge of the Australian Naval Station at that time. He also played an important political role in the process of cession in Fiji. In the album he and his officers are shown swimming on Ovalau. The compiler of the album on the other hand, seems to have been personally associated with HMS Blanche. There are two pictures of this ship in the album as well as pictures of memorials erected by the captain and crew to one of their members. HMS Blanche had been active against the traffic in cheap labour in the South Pacific. In 1873 her paymaster, Lieutenant Nettleton, had acted as temporary British Consul in Fiji after the recall of E B March.

Date: ca 1875

From: Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand album

Reference: PA1-q-330-51-1

Description: European men and a Fijian possibly grading cotton. There are long table -like structures in the foreground and a thatched building in the background Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: [ca 1875]

From: Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand album

Reference: PA1-q-330-52-2

Description: View taken from a hill above the cotton plantation. It shows the cotton plants in rows and the associated buildings as well as the countryside beyond. Taken ca 1875 by an unknown photographer. Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - Cotton Fiji Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Albumen print 13.2 x 19.4 cm mounted on album page