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\fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 ANNEXATION OF ROTUMAH ISLAND
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11107675 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 LETTERS PATENT}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 
 passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, for Declaring the Island of Rotumah and its Dependencies part of the Queen's Dominions, and for the Annexation thereof to the Colony of Fiji,}{
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\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 VICTORIA}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675  by}}}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 
 the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith; Empress of India, of all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.
\par 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 WHEREAS}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 
 the Chiefs of the Island of Rotumah, in the Western Pacific Ocean, have prayed Us that We would rule their island and receive them as Our subjects: And whereas We are minded to accede to the prayer of the said Chiefs, and to accept 
the said Island and its Dependencies as part of Our Dominions, and to provide for the good government of the inhabitants thereof, and for that purpose to provide that the said }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 I}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 sland and its Dependencies shall be annexed to and form part of Our Colony of F
iji: Now therefore We do hereby authorise Our Governor for the time being of Our Colony of Fiji, by Proclamation under his hand and the Public Seal of Our said Colony, to declare that the Island of Rotumah and it}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 s Dependencies that is to say}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675  all islands,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 rocks, reefs, and fisheries lying between the 12\'b0 and 15\'b0 of south latitude and between the 175\'b0 and 180\'b0
 of east longitude from the meridian of Greenwich shall thenceforth form part of Our Dominions.
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 II. And we do hereby fur
ther authorise Our Governor for the time being of Our said Colony of Fiji; by the same or any other Proclamation under his hand and the Public Seal of Our said Colony, to declare that, from and after a day to be therein named, the said Island of Rotumah a
n
d its Dependencies, as above described; shall be annexed to and form part of Our said Colony of Fiji; and we do hereby declare that, on and after the day so to be named, the said island of Rotumah and its said Dependencies shall form part of Our said Colo
ny of Fiji, and shall be subject to the laws from time to time in force therein.
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 III. And the do hereby appoint and declare that, on and after such day, all such powers of government and legislation as are from time to time vested in Our Governor or other 
the person for the time being administering the government of Our Colony of Fiji, and in the Legislative Council thereof, shall apply and extend to the said Island of Rotumah and its said Dependencies had at all times formed part of Our said Colony.

\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 IV. And We do hereby reserve to Ourselves, Our heirs and successors, full power and authority from time to time to revoke, alter, or amend these Our Letters }
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\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675  as}}}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675  to Us or them shall seem meet.
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 V. And we do direct and enjoin 
that these our Letters Patent shall be read and proclaimed in the said Island of Rotumah, and in such place or places within Our Colony of Fiji as Our said Governor shall think fit,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 
\par It witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent. Witness Ourself at Westminister, the Seventeenth day of December, in the Forty-fourth year of Our reign.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 
\par By Warrant under the Queen's Sign Manual.
\par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11107675 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 PALMER
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11107675 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 PROCLAMATION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11107675 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 VICTORIA}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 , by the Grace of God, of the United -Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Que
en. Defender of the Faith, to }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 all and singular to whom these }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 presents may come, Greeting;
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 ARTHUR GORDON WHEREAS}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675  the Chiefs and People of t
he Island of Rotumah in the South Pacific Ocean have ceded to Her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors the said island and the Dependencies thereof:
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 And whereas her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept the same, and to direct that the said Island shall form and constitut}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 e a part of the Colony of Fiji:
\par 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 Now know ye that I, the Honourable }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 SIR ARTHUR HAMILTON GORDON}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 , Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the said Colon
y, do hereby proclaim that the said Island is and from this day henceforth shall be taken to be a part of the said Colony,
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 Whereof let all men take notice and govern themselves accordingly.
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 Given under the hand of the Governor and the Sea, of the Colony this fifth day of November in the year of our Lord one tho}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 
usand eight hundred and eighty.
\par 
\par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11107675 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 By Command,
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 JOHN B. THURSTON}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675 ,
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11107675\charrsid11107675 Colonial Secretary.
\par }}