FRANCE IN THE PACIFIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7345, 6 March 1902, Page 2

FRANCE IN THE PACIFIC.

ANNEXATION 01 AN ISLAND, France is (according to the Sydney "Daily Telegraph") making a forward movement in the Pacific. For some time it exercised a protectorate over the island of Rima-tara and its dependencies; but on Sept. 2 last they were formally annexed by M. Edouard Petit, the Governor of Tahiti. The official journal of French possessions in Oceania gives the following particulars of tha annexation: — 4</A number of men were landed from the ship Durance, under the command of M. Gendre, the second lieutenant, and were placed- near a mast, flying at its head the flag of the protectorate. When "the Governor, approached a touching, incident occurred. . The three sons of the Queen of Rimatara—Norii, Tairiata and Tamatoa— the three chief men of the island, followed by all the crowd assembled at Amairu, presented themselves before the Governor and their mother, Temaeva V., offering them the submission of the population, and solemnly renewed' the request for the annexation of their country to France, made June 6, 1901. The Governor, after having addressed the.native population, announced that, by desire of the Government of the place, and by virtue of the powers confided to him, he took possession of the island of Rimatara and its dependencies, the islets Maria, in the name of France. "He then commanded that the protectorate flag he taken down, ana? the French flag hoisted in its plaice, which was immediately done, amid shouts by the crowd of 'Long Live the French Republic!' The ship's company then presented arms, whilst the "bugle pealed a salute to the flag. At the same time the Durance honoured the French colours by firing 21 guns; and the ship's company saluted with three volleys of musketry."