Elections to the House of Delegates were held in Fiji in the summer of 1871.
After being crowned King of Fiji on 5 June 1871, Seru Epenisa Cakobau called for the election of members of the House of Delegates to scrutinise the proposed constitution.[1]
A total of 30 European members were elected, representing most areas with European settlement. The elected members sat alongside 30 chiefs.[1]
| Settlement | Elected members | |
|---|---|---|
| Ba | J. Berry, H. Kennedy | |
| Bua | R.L. Holmes | |
| Dreketi | R.J.W. Cave | |
| Koro | R. Galloway | |
| Levuka | A. Levy, J.A. Manton, J.R. Ryley | |
| Lomaloma | H. Emberson, W. Hennings, R.S. Swanston | |
| Lower Rewa | Newmarsh | |
| Macuata | James Stewart Butters | |
| Nadroga | Robert Wilson Hamilton | |
| Navua | Brown | |
| Ovalau | Bateman | |
| Ra | W.R. Scott | |
| Savu Savu | A.D. Lang, H.B. Smith | |
| Suva | C.A. Egerstrom | |
| Tova and Nananu | Andrews | |
| Upper Rewa | H. Eastgate, J.M. Haslett, G. Hennings | |
| align=left colspan=2 | Source: Routledge |
The newly elected House was opened by Cakobau on 1 August. After amendments were made to the constitution, including the creation of a Privy Council and the creation of a Legislative Assembly consisting solely of Europeans, the document was signed by Cakobau on 18 August. Writs were subsequently issued for elections to the Legislative Assembly, which were held by the start of October.[1]