NEW GUINEA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 237, 25 March 1876, Page 12

NEW GUINEA.

The Imperial Government have intimated that they will not sanction any attempt by British subjects to acquire land or form settlements in New Guinea. This is directed against an irregular attempt at colonisation by an English association formed for that purpose, which has attracted considerable attention at Home and in the Australian colonies. We have here a repetition of the Colonial Office policy of 1839-40, when the New Zealand Company was thwarted and opposed in its laudable and patriotic endeavors to colonise New Zealand ; and may we not hope that the sequel will be identical in both cases 1 The prompt and energetic action of the New Zealand Company in despatching its first party to Cook Strait, compelled the Crown to undertake the responsibility of acquiring the sovereignity of this fine country; and we have little doubt that were similar steps taken by a powerful-English association in reference to New Guinea, backed as it would be by the moral weight of the Australasian group of colonies, the Imperial Government would annex it to the dominions of the Crown. At any rate, Lord Carnarvon is not disinclined to assume this responsibility, if he could induce the Australian colonies and New Zealand to contribute towards the cost of maintaining the necessary establishments of government in New Guinea. This is brought out very explicitly in the correspondence relating to New Guinea, presented by command to the New South Wales Parliament. Earl Carnarvon cites the case of Fiji, and quotes the refusal to contribute to the expense of its government by New Zealand, Victoria, and Queensland, by way of illustrating his argument respecting New Guinea. The Secretary of State for the Colonies thus remarks on this refusal . “ It would, in my opinion, have been ob- “ viously undesirable, in a matter where “ the grace of the action depended upon “ it being voluntary, and where ..the

“ amount involved was so small that it “ would be mainly valuable as proving the “ readiness of the great colonies to ac- “ cept their membership in the common “ duties of the Empire, to put the “slightest pressure upon any one of “ them to make this joint contribution.” He then goes on to express a hope that the colonies in question will reconsider their decision. “It may again,” he proceeds, “ hereafter be deemed a matter of “ great importance to a colony, or group “ of colonies, that the protection or sove- “ reignty of the Crown should be ex- “ tended to a place adjacent to those “ colonies, either because British sub- “ jects have settled or are likely to settle “ there, or because there is a trade with “ colonial ports needing protection or de- “ velopment, or in order to anticipate “ the occupation of the country by any “ foreign power. Taking, in illustration “ of this principle, the case of Fiji, or “ that of Hew Guinea, —over a portion “ of which her Majesty’s Government “ have been invited, for reasons which “ are more or less worthy of considera- “ tion, to advise that the Crown should “ resume jurisdiction,—it must be obvi- “ ous that the future of these islands is t{ of the most direct and material import- “ ance to the colonies of Australasia ; “ while it would be impossible for a very “ large proportion of the taxpayers of “ this country (England) to understand “ on what principle they should bear, “ whilst the colonies immediately con- “ cerned should be exempted from, the “ burden of any expenditure which may “ be incurred in connection with such “ places.” This is stating the case very fairly, no doubt, and it is a subject which should be considered in all its bearings by colonial Legislatures. Looked at from a purely local colonial point of view, perhaps there is not much to be said in its favor ; but taken in connection with the project for Imperial federation, which policy is undoubtedly affirmed in the foregoing passages from Lord Carnarvon’s despatch, it has a very great deal to recommend it. British colonies are not now founded by conquest, but by the expansion and development of commerce and industrial enterprise, pushing out into new lands, and bringing them gradually under the influence of civilisation. It is clear that the annexation of Fiji by the British Government was a decided gain to the commerce of New Zealand and Australia. Law and security took the place of lawlessness and insecurity, and this is no slight consideration with our increasing trade with the the Fiji group. In like manner the acquisition of New Guinea by the Crown would be an enormous gain to the commerce of Australia, and one for which it should be prepared to pay something. In the case of Fiji, the colonies are sole gainers by its being created a dependency of England; and it is difficult to see what direct interest the Mother Country has in the annexation of New Guinea, beyond what is expressed by an extension of its Australian trade consequent on such annexation. With, respect to this, Lord Carnarvon is pointed in his remarks. He admits the advantages to be derived by the extension of the British Empire in New Guinea, but these are counterbalanced by the refusal of the adjacent colonies to contribute to the cost of governing the annexed territory. The people and Parliament of England are quite willing to accept the common burdens of the Empire, but he frankly adds: —“ It is simply impossible either for me “ to admit, or even if I were to make “the admission to persuade the English ‘ 1 people that the Australian colonies “ have no special interest in the annexa- “ tion of New Guinea, and that the “ responsibility of the measure rests ex- “ clusively with the Imperial Govern- “ ment.”

We are therefore tied up in this way, that while the Imperial Government are prepared to consider any proposal for extending the British sovereignty over New Guinea and other Pacific islands, they will not act unless the adjacent colonies contribute a portion of the cost of governing the new territories until they become self-sustaining. The Ministers of the Crown thus invite Imperial federation for the extension of the Empire ; and for the attainment of the end in view, we think the colonies would do well to fall in with this policy. New Guinea would not long remain a burden upon them. Already the Fly river has been successfully explored by a steamer, the Ellengowan, for 150 miles, and Mr. D’ Albertis, the Italian explorer, now proposes to penetrate into the interior from the sources of the Fly river, finding his way overland to Yule Island or Port Moresby, where mission stations are established. He appeals to the Sydney public to provide him with a steamlaunch, and judging from the way the Sydney Herald takes up the subject, it is certain that the launch will be at his service. The bloodless exploration by the Ellengowan, an interesting account of which has been published, proves that this river is a great natural highway for the commerce of the future. The native population is numerous, but they appear

to be afraid of firearms, and are easily conciliated. Mr. D’ Albertis contemplates an expedition lasting over six or eight months, and he is beyond question the man best fitted to accomplish it successfully, from his knowledge of the language and habits of the aborigines. Thus while the policy of annexation occupies the attention of Cabinets, private enterprise and the enthusiasm of scientific discovery are preparing the way for the successful founding of industrial settlements on the New Guinea mainland.