25

A.—3b

and to form a settlement there. This he did accordingly, and for two years traded between the Carolines and China, chiefly in beche-de-mer. At the end of that time, an accident happened to him, by the unintentional discharge of a needle-gun. He went to Europe for medical advice, and returned to the islands no more. This man made no return of profits to his employers; but he came destitute into the service of Messrs. Godeffroy, from whom (with the exception of his percentage) he received small pay, and from the time of his return to Europe until the present (or very lately) he has been living at an expensive rate at Baden Baden and other German spas. Memo, of all the Islands to the North of the Samoan (Navigator) Group upon which the Messrs. Godeffroy maintain Trading Agents. Quiros Island, said to have no existence, and now generally expunged from the charts. This island is the property of one Eli Jennings, who lives upon it with his family and some Samoan labourers. It is very fertile and well cultivated. The Union Group (or Tokerau), properly so called, which consists of three islands, Takaofo, Nukunono, and Oatafu. The Ellice Group, Nukufetau, which is the property of Messrs. Godeffroy, they having purchased it from the natives. It has an excellent harbour, and is the only island of the Archipelago extending between the Navigators and the Carolines which contains any deposit of pearl oyster ; but the quality is very inferior, the shell being small, and the pearls of little value. Oaitapu and St. Augustine. The Tarawau or Gilbert Group, commonly spoken of as the Kingsmills, Arorai, Tamana, Peru, Onotoa, Nukunau, Tapetuia Nonoiti, Maiana, Tarawa, Apiang, Marakei, Makin, and Putaritari. This includes all the Kingsmills, with the exception of Apemama, Kuria, and Aranuka, which belong to the King Tern Baiteke, who, as far as I know, has not for some years back allowed any Europeans to live on his islands. I have heard since that Messrs. Godeffroy had established an agent there, but Ido not know whether it is so. In the Marshall Group, Ebon, Jaluit, Namerick, Mille, and Aur. In the Carolines, Strong Island, Ascension, Yap, and the Palaos. These last are generally spoken of as unsafe to approach ; but although it is true that the people are ill-disposed to white men generally, there are living upon them two agents of Messrs. Godeffroy, one Frenchman, and two Spaniards of Manilla.

ADDITIONAL MEMORANDA. Re Feench Occupation of the Maequesas. It has been my impression, as stated in my previous paper, that the French Government had abandoned these islands as unprofitable, as they undoubtedly were to them, from the fact that, in 1859, to my own knowledge, all their establishment had been removed thence, except a pilot and two gensdarmes, who had remained on their own application. I have lately been informed that France continues to lay claim to the Marquesas, and that they have some officials located there. This wras brought under my notice within the past three weeks, in consequence of shares in a cotton plantation at Nukuhiva (in Marquesa), or rather portions of the cultivated land on freehold purchase, having been invested in by some men of business in Auckland, of whom one told me that he had bought ten acres of cotton as his share in the concern. I could get no further information, as they seemed desirous to keep the matter private. A branch of the Terre Eugenic concern has been for at least eight or nine years established at Nukuhiva, on plantation grounds originally commenced by the Jesuit mission. I have no doubt this is the land in question, especially so as my informant told me that it was their intention to transport the Chinese labourers from the Tahitian plantation to Nukuhiva. The Tahitian plantation was a gigantic affair. I have seen a good deal of it. At one time they had as many as 1,500 Chinese employed upon it, besides a very great number of Polynesians. It was originally intended to have been worked by Chinese labour only; and such would have been done, but for the fact that the Chinamen imported during the first two years, being dissatisfied with their treatment, wrote letters, which were published by the authorities in the seaports of China, warning the people not to engage themselves to the agents of the Tahitian plantation. Many statements wero published in American and Australian papers some six years ago, as to great ill-usage of labourers on this plantation. These stories were not altogether true. It is certain, however, that under just and humane regulations, an abundant supply of excellent labour could have been obtained and kept up by the managers from the China and Indian Seas. Between 1800 and 1865, as well as at a former period, I was employed officially in the engagement of Coolie labourers in that part of the world, so that I speak from experience. The Navigatoe Geoup. Concerning the Navigators, a paragraph, copied from a San Francisco paper, appeared recently in tho Southern Cross. It stated that a company had been formed in San Francisco, for the purpose of occupying some part of this group. I did not regard the matter much at the time, as the capital mentioned did not seem very large; but in looking over some of my letters of last year, I found one which seemed to bear upon the question of a desire on the part of the United States to form some kind of establishment at the Navigators. It was written to me by a resident of Apia, who is generally regarded as being better acquainted with the native mind, and as having more influence among the natives, than any other European in the group. He wrote, " There is a special Commissioner from the LT.S. Government here, sent by the President in consequence of a petition to him from the chief's of Samoa for a Protectorate. The chiefs have all agreed to it, so it only awaits the sanction of Congress to establish a Protectorate. Colonel Steinberger, U.S.A. the Commissioner, is now on a visit to Savaii. We expect him to return here to-morrow, and he will sail from here in his yacht for San Francisco." 4—A. 3b.