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187. That these gentlemen use their influence to maintain order and assist in the repression of crime is so well known as to render it almost unnecessary for us to refer to the fact, nor is it our province to expatiate on the christianizing and civilizing work they silently perform, often under great difficulties and privations. As missionaries and educated men, however, they form a power ever available to assist in upholding order, too often at imminent risk of their lives. Thus, Bishop Selwyn, when he heard of the murders of Lieutenant Bower and the " Sandfly's " boat's crew, at once proceeded to, and established himself near, the scene of the outrage in the Florida Islands. There he remained, entirely by himself, for many months, amongst the most savage cannibals, and it was mainly through his influence with them that the murderers were ultimately handed over by their chiefs to Captain Bruce, of the " Cormorant." 188. In like manner the Eev. J. Bice, also of the Melanesian Mission, rendered very valuable service in the arrest of a murder at Aoba Island at great personal risk ; and, still more recently, the Eev. James Chalmers, of the London Church Mission Society, acted as guide and interpreter to the expedition sent to punish the chief of Kalo, a town in New Guinea, for an unprovoked outrage on British subjects. 189. These and many other cases we could enumerate show the readiness of these gentlemen of whatever denomination to subordinate all personal considerations of safety or expediency to that of upholding law and order. 190. The mission-stations, scattered as they are amongst the numerous groups of islands, act as a powerful deterrent to crime, whether committed by natives or British subjects : the latter are aware that illegal acts are pretty certain to be reported either to the High Commissioner or the naval authorities, and the former are not unfrequently restrained by their presence, by the promise that their wrongs will be reported and seen to by the proper authorities, from committing outrages, or retaliating on whites injuries sustained at their hands. A case of this kind is now before us where the natives of a village in New Guinea have been induced by the Eev. James Chalmers to submit through him their complaint that a native had been shot by, or by order of, a captain of a trading vessel.* 191. In this, as in too many cases, it is however to be feared that the difficulties of arresting the offender which at present exist in the Western Pacific may render it impossible for justice to be done to these poor people, and force on them retaliation as the only means by which they can redress their wrongs. 192. Missionaries, placed as they are all over the Western Pacific, and with their knowledge of the language and customs of the people, must prove valuable aids to the Deputy Commissioners, whilst the presence of the latter again will strengthen the missionaries' hands for good, and add materially to their personal safety. 193. It is to be hoped that cordial relations will be established between the missionaries and the Deputy Commissioners, as it is of the first importance that they combine in the suppression of disorder and promotion of civilization, which can be best attained by their harmonious action. Eecommendations . 194. We now conclude with a recapitulation of our recommendations. We recommend that the Orders in Council should be carefully revised, with a view to their simplification. We cannot but regard it as being, under the very peculiar circumstances of the Pacific, better that there should be an absence of some of the carefully-contrived checks upon possible, but very improbable, abuse of powers by the High Commissioner and his deputies than that their action should, at every turn, be paralysed by the legal necessity for compliance with small formalities which, in most cases, it is impossible strictly to observe. 195. We recommend that the High Commissionership should be separated, if possible, from the Government of Fiji, and that the High Commissioner should for the present have his headquarters in the Island of New Guinea. 196. We recommend that the islands to the west of Fiji should be divided into five districts, in each of which a resident Deputy Commissioner should be stationed. 197. We recommend the Line Islands, Gilbert, Ellice, and Marshall Groups, and also the Caroline Islands, should for the present be visited annually, or when occasion arises, by a ship-of-war, the commanding officer of which should receive a temporary commission as Deputy Commissioner for the purpose. 198. We recommend that a steam yacht of considerable tonnage should be placed at the service of the High Commissioner, and that this vessel should be put by him, as he may think desirable, at the disposal of each Deputy Commissioner in turn, so as to allow an inspection of each district to be made annually. 199. We recommend, further, that each Deputy Commissioner should possess a small sailing boat, of from five to twenty-five tons burden, in proportion to the size and nature of the district; and we desire in the strongest manner to represent to Her Majesty's Government that, without the command of such means of locomotion, it is literally impossible for a Deputy Commissioner to discharge his functions, and that our other recommendations, even if carried out, would become nugatory and unavailing. 200. We recommend that provision should be made to enable each Deputy Commissioner to be absent from his post for four clear months every alternate year. 201. We recommend the Orders in Council should be so modified as to admit of power being given to naval officers to bring offenders before the High Commission Court, and to arbitrate in

* Mr. Chalmers writes under data : " A year ago a Captain Webb shot, or caused to be shot, a native at Tupesilea, about ten miles from Port Moresby. Through the influence of the Mission in this case they departed from their savage custom, waiting patiently for a man-of-war to come and inquire into their wrongs." No such inquiry has, however, as yet taken place,