The French Expedition to the New Hebrides.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 158, 26 June 1886, Page 2

The French Expedition to the New Hebrides.

j The Dive* (Commandor Legrand) left our hnrb ur on Sunday Morning (May 30). Tho Magellan set out yesterday (Tuesday). These two inen-of war have been despatched to the New Hebrides, after having taken on board a company of marine infantry, two sections of artillery, provisions of all krdj, and tho material nect,s j ary for the uncrnipnionE of our troops, There is na doubt to etc preparations are made to take pochession of the island?. It is the reply of Fnvioo to ihe protestations, so ridiculous a r id so unjust, of tho Australian colonies, rind to the arrogance and pretensions of tho Enj/lish Government. At the moioen . when the States of Europe endeavour to extend on all sides their colonial empire, when in these seas notably Germany and England distribute without scruple the islands among themselves, France has abstained. Oueht she complacently to wait the permission of her rivils to assert her lights in tho NewHebrides, where her interests, commercial and political, demand her presence, and ■which even nature herself has made the natural dependency of her Pacific colony? France cm not betray the interests of the colony without compromising her dignity, and without losing for ever hor influence and hor renown in these seas. Sh© has come to a decision, and it is with enthusiasm thab wo applaud the patriotic determination of tho metropolitan Government, reserving to the future our expression of appi-eoiation of the moral, material, and political rot>uh.,i v hich must spring from it, Colonoi OrtuB, the Acting-Governor, has our congratulations for the intelligence, tho precision, and the rapidity which ha has displayed in the choice of means and in the preparations for the expedition, which. ought to assure the carrying-out of the' wishes of France. Colonel Grtus deserves well of the .Republic and the colony, and his name will be inseparably associated with the great dcci which is about to ba accomplished. By the side of tho name of Colonel Ortup thors is another which cornea naturally to our pen ; W6 mean the name of John JtJiggin.son. At the time of the Punio wars thera was in the Roman Senate an orator who concluded all his speeches by the words : Deleiula est Carthago. It was to him the hupromo reason, All his politics ■were contained in the words : "It is necessary to destroy Carthage." For more than ton year?, ever since his voice had weight in this colony and in F.rame, Mr Higginson has not ceased to' advocate the taking; possession of tho New Hebrides. At private re unions or public meetings during the terms of oilico of all our Governors, and under all Ministerial changes, Mr Higginson has never ceased to declare, "It is necessary to tako tho New Hebrides." He has at last been heard, and what he has desired is to bo accomplished. It is, but just, then, that his name should be placed on " the order ©f tho day " upon the occasion of an event bo 'interesting and in so'bigh a degree to the honour of France and to tho future of New Caledonia.— -From the "Neo Caledonian," June 2nd.