NEW GUINEEA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 75, 30 March 1899, Page 5

NEW GUINEEA.

f PAPER BY SIR' WILLIAM FT MACGREGOR.

, ['"' LONDON, March 29. '•' Sir William Macgregor, ex-Gover-Bor of New Guinea, read a paper at the Colonial Instate on' New Guinea. He said New Guinea's natural posiI tion wf-s a dependency of federal 'Australia, and the retention of the fsland was of'infinitely greater value than ever. It was likely there would be" much pioneer development without the co-operation of limited companies being secured, which meant considerable concessions being granted. • SiV Henry Norman, ex-Governor of Queensland, presided. Earl Stanmore, ex-Governor of New Zealand, said he hoped Australia woula not attempt to exclude Euro pean capital from New Guinea. I Sir- James Garriek, lately AgentGenpra for Queensland, said the pro- ; cediire of the Lowles Syndicate was quite regular and right. Sir Horace Tozer, Agent-General for Queensland, said only a lunatic would advise the abandonment of New Guinea. If such a course was proposed fits Australian colonies Avould certain]v bo heard on the subject. • . .* K«ir-Admiral Bosanquet pointed out : that ins harbours commanding the Torres Straits rendered abandonment impossible. Mr. John Lowles. protested against the innuendo that certain statesmen' who liad sanctioned the concession to the Nf-.v Guinea Company were influenced materially. He declared that the sc-.hf.mc. stood on its merits, and support was neither bought nor begged.