FRENCH ANNEXATION OF WALLIS ISLANDS
Our cablegrams announced a few days ago that the Frenoh Government had annexed the Wallls Islands. The group consists of the island of Uvea or Namo, and about a dozen smaller ones, of which Faioa and Nukuatea are the more Important. The " Argus " mentions that their inhabitants were converted to Christianity by the Marist Fathers, under Mon•elgneurl BataUloa, for whom the natives have erected, two handsome Gothic churcheß of dressed stone, which are almost monumental m their oharaoter. Dr Deschamps. who visited the Islands about three years pgo, on board the Orne, whioh had been sent to bring eff tbe shipwrecked crew of the Lhermitte, whioh bad foundered ov a coral rasf, describes tbe islands a. covered with a luxuriant vegetation, while tbe heat of the climate Is so tempered by the trade winds as to be agr.eable even to people from the north of Europe. The natives belong to the higheßt type of Polynesians, and are altogether unlike the kanakas of New Caledonia, Their language which is almost entirely composed of vowels, and has no diphthongs and enly 12 consonants fs sweet and musical ; and under the influence of their religious instructors an originally savage rsce has beon transformed into a peaceful and civilised community, ft is said that so far back as the reign ofLouise Phtllipe the people of tha island a wished to plaoe themselves nnder the projection of the Frenoh fl g, but political reasons prevoutod the step from being taken. Now, however, the Government of the Republic, seeing Germany so active m thoPacifjc, haa hoia.rd ..ie tricolor io Uvea, and appointed M, Clnuvot as French Resident. The warship Fabert bad baen detached from the French -qu-d---ron m the P«o Go <y order of 'he admiral, ani ba i sailed for the vy*".* I. iaodiiß under thu omm.ud of Oaptaln Benit-r, where ahe arrived on the 8 a «. verober. Six dtys later ibe Qu^e >, Amelie, convoked a fono or National A.saemb'y. at whloh all the population cf the island was present. Supported by Oaptaln Benler and the officers of the Fabert ; by M Chauvot, whom she has appointed her hivcUou, or prime minister — an offioe which Is hereditary— -and by four Marist Fathers, she announced the establishment of the Frenoh protectorate, M. Ohanvot deliyered a long address, In whioh he expatiated on the benefits which would accrue to the islands from their union with France ; the national colors were unfurled by tbe direction of tho Q.een, and a Balute of 21 guns was fired. The event colcoided with the 50th anniversary of the landing of Father Batalllon In Uvea. It is stated' that the people of the Island of Futuna, 120 miles distant from the Wallls group, have solioited BDd will reoeive French projection.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1740, 14 January 1888, Page 3
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463FRENCH ANNEXATION OF WALLIS ISLANDS Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1740, 14 January 1888, Page 3
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