15

A.—3

both natives and Europeans with the nature of the Government, and that a petition would be generally signed, praying that the islands should be annexed to New Zealand. The Government is a singular mixture, and comes under no form of government with which the world has hitherto been familiar : consequently it has not a name. Theoretically, the native chiefs are the sovereigns, but practically their rule is not so powerful as that of the Consuls, who meddle in everything, their influence, again, being crossed by that of the missionaries, who in their turn are watched by those Europeans who have acquired commercial interests in the group. Mr. Lundon, at the time he wrote, had no knowledge of the Annexation Act which has been passed by the New Zealand Parliament, or that any such proposal had been made, and it is somewhat singular that he should have suggested the very method of procedure which is laid down in the Act. There would probably, in the case of the Samoan Islands, be a difficulty in the fact that the British Government have recognized the authority of the chiefs ; but that could no doubt be got over. The Annexation Act, we may remark, has been reserved for Her Majesty's assent, and this fact will elicit from the British Government some expression of opinion on its policy and methods. The whole matter has been laid before Sir George Grey, who recommends that a form of petition should be drawn up under the Act, and forwarded to Mr. Lundon to obtain signatures. This, we understand, is being done, and it is not at all improbable that, in this direction, the Annexation and Confederation Act of New Zealand may bear fruit at an early date.

Tuesday, September 18, 1883. Peoposed Annexation of Samoa. The following is a petition which has been prepared by Mr. J. A. Tole, M.H.E. and which is to be sent to Samoa for signature :— To the Government of the Colony of New Zealand.—The petition of us, the undersigned hereditary chiefs, heads of tribes, and other aborigines of the Samoan or Navigators Islands, in the South Pacific Ocean, and also of us, the undersigned European inhabitants of the said islands, showeth : —l. That your petitioners have heretofore viewed with the deepest concern the relations subsisting between the two races, and the unsatisfactory condition of political government and social order, upon which the prosperity of these islands in a great degree depends.—2. That your petitioners rejoice to learn that the Legislature of New Zealand have enacted a measure to facilitate the annexation to the Colony of New Zealand of any island or islands in the Pacific, whose inhabitants may make proposals to that effect to you, as the Government of the said Colony.—3. It is firmly believed by your petitioners that, if negotiations were, under the provisions of the enactment, carried on to a successful issue, the evil consequences which have resulted from the existing state of affairs in these Islands generally, and against which your petitioners most anxiously and urgently desire to provide, would no longer continue.—4. Your petitioners earnestly point out to your Government the desirability as early as possible of causing the appointment of a Commissioner or Commission to conduct with, us or some fit and proper persons appointed by us, negotiations relative to the annexation of these Islands to New Zealand.—s. Your petitioners do not at this stage think it necessary to enter upon the several grave questions as to customs and territorial rights of your aboriginal petitioners, as also the establishment of laws and institutions applicable to aborigines or Europeans, the due regard to the just rights of both races of inhabitants, and generally such other important questions which would naturally have to be considered in arriving at a basis of such annexation, or the terms upon which such annexation might be satisfactorily concluded, all of which matters would more properly arise when the above-mentioned Commissioner or Commission may be appointed. Your petitioners therefore most sincerely and respectfully pray, that your Government will, in accordance with the spirit and intention of the Act passed by the Legislative Assembly of New Zealand, listen to the appeal which we now make to you, by enabling your petitioners, by annexation to your colony, to secure to these islands lasting peace, and that good order and government which your colony enjoys. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

No. 2. Mr. John Lundon to the Peemieb. Sie, — Onehunga, February 25th, 1884. I have lately been to the Samoan (Navigators) group of islands, and while there I had three meetings with the Samoan Parliament, and I advised them to get their islands annexed to New Zealand. This the Parliament unanimously agreed to do. I was the bearer of some papers which were addressed to the Hon. F. Whitaker, Premier, and to the Government and Parliament of New Zealand. I laid the papers before Sir F. Whitaker, after his return from the Conference at Sydney, and before he held his public meeting on Federation. He said that, if I liked, he would forward the papers to you, but that you would be in Auckland in three weeks, and he recommended that he should keep the papers until you arrived, and he and I could then discuss the whole matter with you. Last Saturday (23rd) I again called on him, when he told me you would be up here in ten or twelve days. I afterwards met the Hon. J. Bryce in the street, and he told me he did not think you were coming further, than Taranaki, and kindly offered me a passage in the "Hinemoa" to go to see you on the matter. I should have availed myself of this offer, had it not been for my understanding with Sir F. Whitaker. My motive in writing to you is, to ask you if you are coming to Auckland soon, and when ? And, if not, will you kindly make some arrangement for me to meet you for the purpose of