GENERAL McIVOR AND NEW GUINEA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1035, 27 December 1883, Page 2

GENERAL McIVOR AND NEW GUINEA.

The London correspondent of the JVew Zealand Tinies says:— No one as yet is acquainted with the exploits of the famous Mclvor, but it is probable that sooner or later, perhaps later, someone will be enterprising enough to furnish the public with the story of his gallant life. It appears, however, that the General is an ex-servant of the Greeks and Servians, but in these piping times of peace he is obliged to trail an umbrella in Pall Mall, and therefore his fiery soul, being in search of somewhat on which to vent its energies, turns joyfully to New Guinea, and determines to relieve Colonial Government of the knotty problem which these incompetent persons are vainly endeavoring to solve. The little game which this gallant soldier lias in hand is to form a little company just to take the Papuans over, and teach them civilisation, which if they do not show any readiness to learn, why, it must be taught them vi et armis- “ Civilisation must go forward sometimes upon a powder cart,” as Hosea Biglow says. However, the Foreign Office, represented by Lord Derby, has put an emphatic veto on the little proposal, and his Lordship says that if the General persists, in spite of warning that the High Commissioner of the Pacific will know how to deal with the matter. Probably the author of the scheme was influenced in his views by the success attending the Borneo enterprise of Sir Rutherford Alcock; by this time he knows his mistake, but it appears he is bent on the enterprise, and if he sails will land under a foreign flag. It is just possible that the imprudent action of this man may be the means of precipitating a crisis, and, possibly bring about the annexation of the island by the force of circumstances. It is certain that if any foreign power were to coquette with this speculator, very serious action would at once be taken by this country, and such a crisis arise that this generation has not witnessed, if the foreign Power interested were to persist in an unfriendly enterprise. Meanwhile Lord Derby is evidently determined not to have his hand forced by any one, and as soon as it is completed he will bring forward a scheme which, without serisusly hampering the Government at Home, will endeavor to secure to best interests of the colonists and the special objects they are understood to have at heart,