Saturday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 20, 11 September 1885, Page 9

Saturday.

The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Timet wires as follows :— The Pacific Wands Committee to-day presented their report. The committee recommended the adoption of the following resolutions :— That it it is desirable in the interests of the Empire that the Fijian and Samoan groups should be brought into closer relations with New Zealand, provided that this can be effected without any serious pecuniary responsibility on the part of this Colony, and with the friendly concurrence of the German Empire and the United States, and that negotiations be opened up with the Imperial Government with a view to its taking such steps as will lead to close relations. In view of the probable early completion of the Panama Canal, it is of the utmost importance that the Island of Rapa (Opara), which lies in the direct routes of steamers between Panama and New Zealand, and also the Cook Group, should be brought under English control, and urgent representations to that effect should be made to the Imperial Government. That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted through his Excellency the Governor to her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Colonies and to his Excellency the Governor of Fiji, and that the Agent-general be urged to press upon her Majesty's Government the views expressed by this report. Prince Bismarck has notified to the British Government his readiness to submit the entire question regarding the Caroline Islands to arbitration. The agitation which has bean going on in Spain in regard to the infringement by Germany of the Spanish claim to the island in question is provoking the anger of the German Press, which has lately displayed considerable acerbity towards Spain.