FRENCH COMMUNISTS IN NEW CALEDONIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1630, 26 August 1871, Page 2

FRENCH COMMUNISTS IN NEW CALEDONIA.

The folio-wing is the letter addressed by "J. V.," who dates from London on thu 10th of June, to the Editor of The Times :—: — " Sh' — Attention has very properly been directed to the danger which threatens the Australasian colonies from the flood of Communistic convictism which is to be turned on New Caledonia. While Ido not under-estimate the risk of a large number of those convicts finding their way directly from New Caledonia to the Australasian colonies, it must be borne in mind that it is possible for the colonial legislatures, by vigorous measures, to check such immigration. But it is to be feared very many of the French convicts will find their way to the Fiji Islands, which are not far distant from New Caledonia ; and it will be impossible afterwards to prevent such convicts proceeding to Australia, unless communication with tho Fijis be closed. The proposal to send great numbers of the French Communists to New Caledonia will possibly cause attention to be directed to the Fiji question. It may tlien be pertinently asked why Great Britain, which a few generations since would readily have sent a squadron to take possession of the group if the prospect of settling a colony there had been presented, should now refuse to accept the islands as a gift, though they have been pressed upon her acceptance. If it is to be understood that the colonial policy of Great Britain lias been modified, and that, therefore, it is not wise to add to her possessions in the Pacific, then the Australasian colonies should have the ojiportunity of taking charge of the Fijis, and so preventing what must otherwise inevitably be the case sooner or later — a foreign power obtaining a lodgment in the vicinity of Australia and New Zealand, If, on the other hand, it is in the minds of British statesmen, without reference to parties, to retain possession of the Australasian colonies, and to avoid the cost of a much enlarged squadron in the Pacific, which the lodgment of a foreign power in the Fijis, would beyond the possibility of cavil entail, then a mere pounds, shillings, and pence economy should lead to the Empire taking possession of the Fijis. or enabling the Australasian colonies to do so. An Order in Council declaring the group to to be included with one ov other (or possibly with more than one) of the colonies would, I believe, be all that it would be necessaiy for the Government to do to enable the islands of the group to be brought under settled rule, and to be secured to the British race. Failing one of the suggested coiu'ses, the prospect of having as a neighbour such a reckless and desperate Alsatia as the Fijis. threaten to become, and of their turning loose upon the Australian Continent and New Zealand an unlimited number of the proteges of 'Mary Anne,' is altogether so lamentable that the oolonies, notwithstanding future hazards, will really be compelled to hope that some foreign power will intervene and establish a stable government for the islands of the Fijian group."

We have been requested to insert the following utterance of Mr Dufty (a .Roman Catholic), smother leading Victorian, in op. position to Sir- James jVi'Cunoeh, and spoken in reference to that gentleman's views on Education, which we published last week : — " J will only add that public education will bo an open question in this Government, as it lias been an open ruiestion in every tJovornment in this country except the last. Jt is .% question of conscience, on which men will necessarily differ, and differ the moio hopelessly the more conscientious fehoy are. Nothing can be more s\tt'pMS>*"g than that the late Administration Avere able to agree on a common measure, seeing the opposite opinions which had been expressed on tlio question by Mr A'Beckett aud Mr Michic, Mr Wrixon and Mr .Francis, during their public career. But when their joint inea. sure was submitted to the country, it met a. decisive rejection. There were 42 1 members returned to th,e present Parliament pledged to vote against it, &ome because it did not cany secular edxication far enough, but most because it divorced it from religious training. My own opinions on this question sire unchanged and unchangeable. ] believe the aim of the State in education ought to be to make good citizens. There is confessedly no influence so powerful over the lives of men as early teaching and early habits. Bn% surely it is not the teaching of geography, or the habit of a ready reckoner, ao much as the teaching of religion, and the habit oS speaking the truth and referring our actions .to tlie will of the Creator, that make good men and good oitiaeaß."