A.—3b

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to New Guinea in quest of labour. As a matter of fact no labour vessels have as yet cleared from any port in this colony for New Guinea, nor have any natives of that island ever been introduced into Queensland. The inhabitants on the coast of New Guinea are agriculturists themselves, with abundance of land to cultivate, and it is quite likely that any improved system of European cultivation would give employment to a large body of New Guinea natives in their own country; but there is no probability, nor was it ever contemplated, that natives would be taken to the Australian coast. 9. The proposal of Lord Derby to place one or more deputies of the High Commissioner on the coast provided that a reasonable annual sum to meet the cost thereof be paid by this colony, does not at all meet the requirements of the case. The powers of the High Commissioner do not extend beyond British subjects. Men from all nations are flocking towards the settlements in Torres Straits, and these are the people we should find it most difficult to deal with. The Government must therefore decline to contribute in any way to meet the cost of these officers. The proposal that, in the event of the High Commissioner's deputies being sent out, the Imperial Government would take steps for strengthening the naval force on the Australian Station, is connected with a much wider subject—the defences of our coast. The Government consider that the naval defence of the colonies ought certainly not to fall exclusively on Her Majesty's Government; a large portion of it should be made a charge upon colonial funds ; and I believe that, were proposals made to the various colonies, or the united colonies, for better and more permanent protection, Great Britain would be met in a patriotic and loyal spirit. 10. The present condition of New Guinea, uncontrolled by any civilized Government, and liable at any moment to be taken possession of by a foreign nation, is a constant source of uneasiness to the colonists of Queensland, who clearly perceive the evils and dangers likely to arise from the close proximity to our shores of a Foreign Power, and from the establishment, as the probable result, of penal settlements even nearer to the colony than those already formed. Lord Derby insists that we cannot of ourselves annex, but this in no way impeaches our contention that now is the opportune time for annexation, that delay will only result in an increase of Imperial responsibilities, and that what might appear to be a policy of enterprise is simply a prudent provision against future complications. If England, therefore, formally annex at once, the well-grounded fears of the colonists will be allayed. I have, &c. Thomas Mcllweaith. His Excellency the Administrator of the Government of Queensland.

No. 12. The Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby to Administrator Sir A. H. Palmee, K.C.M.G. Sik,— Downing Street, October 13, 1883., I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 13th of August, enclosing a letter from the Premier of Queensland, with a memorandum, which had been laid before the Executive Council of the Colony, on the subject of New Guinea. This important memorandum will receive the careful attention of Her Majesty's Government, but the full text of my despatch of the 11th of July had not reached the hands of your Ministers when the memorandum was written, and Her Majesty's Government will now await the further consideration, at the approaching Conference at Sydney, on the subjects to which Sir Thomas Mcllwraith's Memorandum refers. I have, &c. Sir A. H. Palmer. Derby.

No. 10,

No. 13. The Baron De Miklouho Maclay to the Colonial Office. My Loed,— Sydney, October 17, 1883. Our (Eev. T. Chalmers' and mine) apprehensions have not been deceived. A telegram appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, dated the 14th October: —" Brisbane.—The Colonial Secretary has received a telegram from the Eev. Mr. Chalmers, of New Guinea, confirming the statement that 15,000 acres of sugar land on that island have recently been bought for a Sydney syndicate at Id. per acre, the real owner of the land being unaware of the transaction." I have, &c. The Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby M. De Maclay.

No. 14. Administrator Sir A. H. Palmes, K.C.M.G. to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Dubby. My Lobd, —■ Government House, Brisbane, October 24, 1883. I do myself the honour to enclose, for your Lordship's information, extracts from the Brisbane Courier of the 13th, 15th, and 20th October, giving the details of what is said to have been a land-purchase which has been effected lately in New Guinea. It is hardly necessary for me to point out to your Lordship the very serious difficulties which are likely to arise, if speculative Europeans are permitted to trade upon the ignorance and simplicity of the natives of New Guinea. It appears from the article of the Courier's correspondent that the land said to have been sold is the sole support of the natives in the particular district referred to ; that the native chiefs have no power whatever to part with the land, they simply holding it for the people ; that the bargain was an unjust one, inasmuch as the value put upon the land, Id. per acre, was absurd; and that the