Sir John Thurston.

Sir John Thurston, K.C.M.G.. F.R.G.S., F.L.S., Governor of Fiji, High Commissioner and Consul-General for the Western Pacific (whose portrait we give from a photograph by Farley, of San Francisco), was born in the year 1836, is a member of the old Gloucestershire family of that name descending from Richard

Turstin, who, in the year 1389 was Lord of the ancient Manor of Cheveringuarde, near Thornbury, where the family still live. The earlier part of Sir John's life was spent at sea, chiefly in East Indian waters. Leaving India in consequence of severe illness, Sir John visited Australia, over which he travelled extensively. In 1866, Sir John Thurston was appointed by Lord Derby (then Lord Stanley) to act as Her Majesty's Consul for Fiji and Tonga, which post he occupied for about four years. Upon the earlier political difficulties in Fiji reaching a climax, and upon the resignation of the first Ministry formed under the native king and chiefs, the subject of our memoir was called to office by the united voices of the natives, settlers, and foreign consuls, and entered the Government as Chief Secretary and Minister for Foreign Relations. The following account of Sir John Thurston's subsequent career is taken from the Colonial Office Record of the public services of its officers:—"March, 1874, was appointed 'chosen and special adviser' of the native king and chiefs of Fiji, to confer with Her Majesty's commissioners as to the annexation of the islands to Great Britain; upon the offer of cession became Chief Secretary under the 'ad interim Government;" was again nominated as special adviser to the king and chiefs in September, 1874, for the purpose of conferring with His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson as to the act of cession; Colonial Secretary and Auditor-General of the colony, October, 1874; and also secretary to the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, September, 1879; administered the government of Fiji from the 16th November to 20th December, 1880; in 1880 and 1881 sent on special duty connected with treaty negotiations to the Friendly Islands; Deputy-Governor of Fiji, October 1882, during absence of the Governor on duty as High Commissioner for Western Pacific-administered the government November, 1883, to July, 1884; Assistant High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, November 1883; acted as Consul-General for the Western Pacific, April, 1884; to June, 1884; summoned to England in connection with the joint commission appointed to inquire into the claims