FRENCH ANNEXATION OF WALLIS ISLANDS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 264, 17 January 1888, Page 3

FRENCH ANNEXATION OF WALLIS ISLANDS.

Our cablegrams announced a few days ago that the French Government had annexed the Wallis Islands. The group consists of the island of Uvea or Namo, and about a dozen smaller ones, of which Faioa and Nukuatea are the more important. The Argus mentions that their inhabitants were converted to Christianity by the Alarist Fathers, undor Monseigneuri Bataillon, for whom the natives have erected two handsome Gothic churches of dressed stone, which arc almost monumental in their character. Dr Deschamps, who visited the islands about three years ago, on hoard the Orne, which had been sent to bring off the shipwrecked crew of the Lheimittc, which had foundered on a coral reef, describes the islands as covered with a luxuriant vegetation, while the heat of tho c’’matc is so tempered by the trade winds as to he agreeable even to tho people from the north of Europe. The natives belong to the highest type of Polynesians, and are altogether unlike tho Kanakas of New Caledonia. Tneir language, which is almost entirely composed of vowels, and has no diphthongs and only 12 consonants, is sweet and musical; and under the influence of their religious instructors an orig'nally savage race has been transformed into a peaceful and civilised community. It is said that so far back as the reign of Lou's Phillipe the people of the islands wished to place themselves under the protection of the French flag, but political reasons prevented the step from being taken. Now, however, the Government of the Republic, seeing Germany so active in the Pacific, has hoisted the tiicolor in Uvea, and appointed M. Chauvot as French Resident The warship Rabert has been despatched from the French squadron in the pacific, by order of the Admiral, and had sailed for the Wal"s Islands under the oommand of Captain Benier, where she airived on the Bth November. Six days later the Queen, Amelie, convoked a fono, or National Assembly, at wh'eh all the population of the island was present. Supported by Captain Benier and the officers of the Fabert; by M. Chauvot, whom she has appointed her klvalou, or prime Munster—an office which is hereditary—and by four Mai Ist Fathers, she announced the establishment of the French protectorate. M. Chauvot cloliyered a long address, iq which ne expatiated on the benefits which would accrue to the islands from their union with France. Tho national colors were unfurled by direction of the Queen, and a salute of 21 guns was fired. The event coincided w ith the 50th anniversary of the landing of Father Bataillon in Uvea. It is stated that the poole of the islqnd of Futuna, 120 nr'es distant from the group, have solicited, and will receive, French protection.