The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1886. THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1420, 19 May 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1886. THE NEW HEBRIDES.

It is devoutly to bo hoped that the last cablegrams with regard to the blew Hebrides question are correct, and Unit Great Britain will never consent to the annexation of the islands by Franco. Where, wo arc disposed to ask, would be the advantages to Great Britain if the proposals of France were acceded to ? The island of liapa could be no commercial equivalent. It is only about twenty miles in circumference, with a population of HOO. The area of the New Hebrides is -1200 square miles. Of the thirty islands, eleven have been occupied by British missionaries for the last 10 years. All the surveying, the administration of justice, and the supervision of the labor tralhc have been done by British subjects and British men-of-war. Mission houses, schools, and churches have been built, books have been prepared in eleven or twelve dialects, and Hie and property have been rendered comparatively secure. At ihe present time there arc twelve missionaries and one hundred teachers engaged in the Christian work of civilisation. More missionaries arc preparing (or this sphere of labor, and £BOOO have been raised towards the purchase of a new mission steamer. The Natives have repeatedly expressed a wish to be under the sway of Great Britain. If, as is stated, the natives of Bapa or Baratonga are to be consulted, would it not be an outrage on the natives of the New Hebrides to pass them over to France like so many casks of arrowroot ? We have thus touched upon the claims of Groat Britain ami the wish of the natives. We need hardly say anything as to the wishes of the missionaries and the Presbyterian Church, who surely are entitled to some consideration in the disposal of this question. With the results of French annexation in the (South Boas before their eyes—the seizure of the (Society Islands and the Loyalty Group, and the injury inflicted on the missions established by British subjects —they could only regard it as a calamity. And now, what are the claims of the French ? The group, it is alleged, is contiguous to the French colony, and possesses excellent soil for (he growth of food for the convicts and safe harbors for vessels trading to New Caledonia. But it. is a condition of French annexation that no convicts shall be sent to any part of the (Southern (Seas. What right lias France to demand such compensation for keeping her convicts at home, or to threaten that if the New Hebrides be not exchanged for Bapa, she will Hood this part of the hemisphere with convicts I The only Governments disposed to yield are those of New (South Wales and New Zealand, but the firm front presented by the other colonies lias, it is now hoped, averted the threatened evil. The Presbyterian Churches in New Zealand have formally and earnestly opposed it, and in this they have had the expressed sympathy in some quarters of the Wesleyan and .Episcopalian Churches. Besides the New Zealand Presbyterian Church, the Free Church of (Scotland, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, in Victoria, in (South Australia, in New South Wales, and in Tasmania contribute towards the mission, and arc intimately interested in the independence of the islands. The Natives have been acquiring more or less of British customs and arts, and coming under the influence of Christianity, and they naturally look to Great Britain to cast over them the shield of her protection.

It will have been noticed by reference to ouv cablegrams during the last few days, that the Komiadec Islands have been annexed by England. This group is situated about 400 miles in a north-easterly direction from Auckland, and comprises Sunday Island, Macauley Island and Curtis Island, in addition to a few rocky islets.

The following gentlemen werefo-day normnated as Commissioners of the Hakatcre Town Board:—Messrs G. W. Andrews, J. Caldicott, P. Fawcett, F. T. Mayo, B. Hughes, W. W. White, and B. Carter. An election for the return of five of these will be held on the 20th inst.

It will be noticed from an advertisement appearing elsewhere in this issue that ihe time for receiving nominations of candidates for the offices of Borough auditors has been extended to Tuesday, May 25.

A meeting of the Committee of tho Ashburton County Hunt Club was held at the Commercial Hotel last evening. There was a good attendance, and the Deputy-master, Mr T. Upton, occupied tho chair. Mr M. Friedlander resigned his seat on the Committee, and Mr B. J- Hart was elected to fill the vacancy. The meets for tho month of June wore fixed, and arrangements for the concert and ball to be given by the club on May 21 were completed. The Committee then adjourned.

We have received the prospeclus of the Anglo-Anstralian Press Association, a now intelligence agency which promises independency and accuracy,

The local volunteers arc ordered to parade at the drillshed in full dress on Monday next, at 10.'15 a.m., to celebrate Her Majesty’s natal day. The usual Governmental inspection will be made, and a /m-ilr-Jnu: will take place. A full muster is desired and expected. Absentees will render themselves liable to a fine not oxccading three pounds. The concert to be given by the Ashburton County Hunt Club on the evening of May 21 (Queen’s .birthday) promises to bo one of the most successful entertainments yet given in the town. The Committee has obtained promises of assistance from a number of Christchurch and Timaru amateurs, and a very attractive programme has been prepared. The concert will bo followed by a ball.

At the llesidcnt Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr David Thomas, J.l’., a lad named John Mcliroy, about 11 years of ago, was charged with the larceny of £1 12s, from Arthur Deo. Thu accused, who admitted the offence, was remanded until Eriday next.

Monday next, being the anniversary of Her Majesty’s birthday, will he observed as a holiday by the Post and Telegraph Department. The oflico will, however, be open from 0 till 10 in the morning, and from 7 till Bin the evening. Mails will he despatched by the early trains. The Mayor of Christchurch has received

numerous applications for relief from sufferers by the late Hoods. During the storm the premises of Mr Cowlin, at Governor’s Bay, were destroyed by one of the crooks coursing down the hill side becoming diverted from its course.

The house was crushed to the ground, and its inmates, Mr and Mrs Cowlin, and their invalid daughter, escaped through a broken window. The daughter had to be dragged out in her night dress. The death is announced of Sir Thomas Krskine May, K.C.8., the eminent authority upon parliamentary procedure, at the age of 71. Letters of naturalisation have been issued to Mr Garry Eriedlandor, of Ashburton, and Mr George Hooll, of South Itakaia. The Ashburton Acclimatisation Society has been registered under "The Animals Protection Act 1880.”

Professor Pico has determined to give his promised entertainment in the Town Hall tomorrow evening. The press throughout the colony, indeed we might say throughout the civilised world, is unanimous in pronouncing the Professor as incomparably the most astounding, unfathomable of thought readers. Professor llico is accompanied by his talented wife, a vocalist who has met with most favorable receptions in all the principal towns of Australia, and the bill of fair promised for tomorrow evening, is of an exceptionally interesting and amusing character.