THE SAMOAN QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7223, 12 January 1885, Page 5

THE SAMOAN QUESTION.

MOVEMENTS OP THE HINEMOA.

THE GOVERNOR AND MINISTERS.

The Government steamer Hinemoa left the Queen-street Wharf shortly after one o'clock yesterday afternoon, having on board the Hon. Mr. Buckley and the Hon. Mr. Tole. The • intention was to proceed to the Thames, in order that Mr. Buckley. might see the condition of the charitable institutions there. These institutions he has visited on Sundays in the South, and we believe it was his ' intention to do that business last evening if " possible. That being concluded, the Hinemoa would go straight to Waiwera, where a consultation would be held between the three Ministers, the others being consulted by telegraph. la all probability a definite resolution will be come to. It will be resolved whether the Hinemoa is to go to the islands, or whether she is simply to return to Wellington. It is reported that in consequence of the attitude taken by His Excellency the Governor the relations between him and Ministers have become somewhat "strained." (By TBLXaRAFH.--OWK OOBBB3POITDEKT.] Chbistohubch, Saturday. The Lyttelton Times does not think it worth while to annex Samoa, and fancies the Government hardly foolish enough to repeat the Thursday Island comedy. It says : " For New Zealand to intervene with an annexation on its own account would certainly be to cut the Gordian knot, but that is no reason why we should all approve of a policy of annexing the islands, or should say by all means let the Germans take these islands if they want them. They are too far removed to be properly governed, and they would furnish a distracting element of foreign policy, which we are much better without. The problem of governing ourselves in the cheapest and best manner has hitherto proved difficult enough in all conscience to dissuade us from, as yet, ; beginning the conquest of the world. Let us- fulfil our duties as a colony before entering upon the duties of a great nation. Let us subdue our own ; wilderness before we seek to possess the wilderness which belongs to other people. It is said on the other hand that the Samoans wish to join us. That is no answer to the arguments which bear against our joining them. We would quite agree with the stand Lord Derby has taken in this matter had he expressed himself plainly. The oourse he has adopted, according to the published version of his telegram in reply, is neither of assent or of dissent. The 1 answer is that pending the conclusion of certain negotiations, and the assent to be given to the Confederation Act, the Imperial Government disapproves a certain course proposed by the New Zealand Cabinet. It is obvious that any moment the negotiations may be completed or broken off, and the Act may be assented to. It is, therefore, obvious that at any moment the approval of the New Zealand request may be sent from Downing-street. No one under the circumitances could blame our Government for persevering with the Hinemoa. Having onoe made public their intention, and not having received a refusal by any means definite from the Government of Her Majesty; it would be impolitic to stay proceedings'. To do so would be only to give all German naval commanders in the Pacific who may be within reach of cable news the fullest knowledge of our intention to forestall the Bismarckian plans'. To keep back the Hinemoa now would be only to encourage the Germans to hurry their measures of annexation. Of course, whatever action may be taken, there will be a danger of legal complications arising out of the agreement announced the other day between the King of Samoa and the German Cohbul; but that question can be argued after our action a great deal better than before. We refer to these contingencies as merely surmising what is the proper thing under the present circumstances for a Government to do which has made up its mind to a certain course. For ourselves we should prefer to see this annexation project abandoned, and the Hinemoa resume her original ostensible voyage."