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New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3464, 20 June 1898, Page 2

Br the adoption of the latest report of the Reserves Committee, the City

Gtiv Council has confirmed a now hbsbeveb. method of dealing with those areas around Wellington, none too many in number, and not excessive in extent, Which have been set apart for all tint) as places to which residents may resort for recreation. It is unquestionable that the reserves have in the past bsen dealt with in a most fragmentary manner. A few trees have been planted and slight improvements made here and there, but in very few cases has anything of a thorough nature been done. Now there is to be a new departure. It is proposed ti take a certain area each year and concentrate work on it on definite lines, keeping in view extension in accordance with a general scheme of fencing, planting, and the laying out of paths. This year an area of about 13 acres on the slope of Mount Victoria, overlooking Oriental Bay, is to be treated. The area in question is reached by the road which leads to the Gouvalesosut Homs. Under the new method, it is contended, money will not be frittered away as it has been in the past, for want of system, but will be laid out to advantage.

Germany's intention to have a finger in the Spanisli-A'narican pie was the shown when her warships german tried to cover ships for the pihgee. relief of Manila, and afterward in an effort to annex the Sulu Islands. Now it is reported that the captain of a German warship has announced that the Philippines cannot be annexed by America " while/William is Kaiser,” and that Germany is likely to get the Caroline Islands, which are an old Spanish possession. They lie near to the Marshall group on the east and the Ladronos on the north. The Palew Islands, on the west, are usually included as forming part of the Caroline Archipelago, which stretches from close to the Equator across nearly 10 degress of latitude, ’and from east to west over 52 degrees o£ lougituds. The Pelewa are the larger group, comprising 560 square miles, with a population of 36,000, while the Carolines proper have a population of about 22,000 and an area of 270 square miles. The soil is fertile, yielding

breadfruit, cocoanuts, sugar-cane, yams, &c., and fish and turtle abound in the seas. The natives are of the brown Polynesian race, strong and hardy, and are described as gentle, amiable and intelligent, bold sailors, doing a good trade with neighbouring groups. This is not the first time Germany has sought to obtain possession of the Carolines. In 1885 a German man-of-war hoisted the German flag on Yap, on© of the five principal islands, an action to which Spain objected, and then followed some keen diplomatic correspondence, which ended in an agreement to refer the dispute to the arbitration of the Pope, whose decision, as was ccmraouly expected, was in favour of Spain, while reserving special trading privileges to Germany. The latter Power is not now satisfied with this, and apparently considers that existing circumstances alter past conditions and nullify agreements, which is by no means a rare view among diplomatists as respects the validity and maintenance of solemn treaties, if territorial aggression is deemed a necessity of the State.