The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1885.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 194, 24 August 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1885.

For the came that lacks uiittanee, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do,

As we anticipated, our Australian cousins are not so enthusiastic when it comes to paying the New Guinea piper as they were when the question of annexation was being discußßed. Sir Poter Scratchley, the High Commissioner of British Now Guinea, has made up an estimate of the expenses of introducing and administering civilised Government over the territory, and has submitted it with a memorandum for the consideration of the Australasian Governments, covering the following points, on which an expression of opinion is invited:—f «>s to the extent of territory inland which should be annexed ; fbj aa to the estimate of the probable annual cost of governing the territory ; (c) as to the distribution of this annual cost amongst the contributing Governments and as to the arrangements forpermanentlysecuring their contributions. So far as we are aware, Victoria is the only colony that has replied to the memorandum. Mr Service, it is reported, haa written, to Sir Peter Scratchley

to the effect that the Victorian Government must decline to increase its subßidy until it is known what share of tho cost of maintaining British authority in Now Guinea wouid bo borno by tho Imperial Government. In tho meantime, however, Victoria is ready to continue its contribution on the original basis, viz., £15,000 poi annum, to be oontributed by the wholo of the colonies. Sir Peter Scratehley's memorandum is a most skilful attompt to bind the colonial Governments to further expenditure. Ho estimates that a sum of £25,000 will be required to cover tho first cost of introducing Uovernmeut in British New Guinea, with £28,000 for tho yoar's expenditure, ending 31stMay, 1880, and £fiO,OOOa-yeartheroafter. It ie for the first or capital cost that a claim is made for an increased contribution from tho colonies ; and the innocent suggestion of the High Commissioner is that £20,000 be advancod by the colopies as a loan, without in teroet.to bo xopaid " whenever the financial position of the territory admits of it." It roads like a bit of grim humour—this proposal that the colonies should revorso tho usual order of things, and lend money to the Mother Country ; but it is nothing but retributive justice that thoso who clamoured so loudly and persistently for annexation should be asked to bear the hoavy end of the burden. The annual expenditure, as estimated, is divided thus i—Stuff, £8,000 ; steam and other vessels, £9,000 ; mails, explorations, and sundries, £'3,000. Of tho £iO,OOO, it is expected that (ho Imperial Govornmont shall contribute only £5,000, while the colonioß give £15,000, and Sir Peter Soratohloy wishes the tatter secured by special appropriations, under acts of Parliament, for a period of five years. Yet, confessedly, tho Govornruenfc organised by tho High Commissioner will bo "on a tontativo basis." At tho end of the five years, there may be further proposals to establish Government on a permanent footing,with additional costs to defray, and the probabilities of ropaymont of that £20,000 loan without interest (supposing it to be advanced) aro vory reraoto indooa. One good foaturo of Sir Petor Scratchley's proposals is that ho has undertakou to suporviso oxploring expeditions in New Guinea, To this end, ho has been in communication with tho Geographical Society of Australasia, This Socioty has obtained grants from tho Governments of New South Walos, Victoria, and Queensland, and contemplates certain exploia tioiiH. It further intonda to assist with v grant of money Mr Forbes, of tho Royal Geographical Socioty, who is expected from England to conduct an exploration of tho Owen Stanloy Range. The High CommiaBionor's schemo of control.as sketched in his memorandum, appears to be well coneidorod aud thorough; perhaps it is too complete and costly, and the Australian Governments, wo should think, will havo something to say on that head as woll as on the qnostion of tho proposed addition to their responsibilities.