ENGLAND AND CENTRAL AFRICA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2175, 17 July 1889, Page 2

ENGLAND AND CENTRAL AFRICA

" The Times" publishes the ! llowlnr statement from an obviously inspired correspondent, from which it looks as if England is likely to annex all that is' left of Central Africa ; — " II is proposed*" Bays the oorrespondent, "that the African Lakes Company shall be merged into the greater obartered company, whioh shall be permitted to take over the administration of all those countries north and south of Zambesi where at present British influence Is predominant, and where no sett'ed government exists. The whole region to be included, wonld be between the south, end of Tanganyika and the west shores of Nyassa, on the southern boundaries of the Congo Free State, and the western and eastern possessions ot Portugal, down the frontiers of the Bechuanaland Prot -ctorate. Not only is this, a vast country, bnt it is , one of the richeat regions m Central Africa. By bringing it under British inflaenoe communication could be established from the Gape to tha Nile. Missionaries aid traders would be independent of Portugal and Lower Zambesi, for already money is available to start a railway from the Cape frontier to Zambesi, a means of communication muoh more effectual than any by an uncertain river, Tha eleotrlo telegraph would advance simultaneously, and roads practicable for waggons would be made In all directions. In short, what baa been done elsewhere m Afrioa by British enterprise m forming the chartered oompanies, with the assent and under the patronage of the British Crown, will he done here for the civilisation and development of the continent. The native chiefs every where are favorable to the arrangement, and In moat eases have oonoluded trea iaa with the African Lakes Company, or with othei Britishcorporations oanoerned In the vast enter prlae. T/he most cordial co-operation o the Imperial British East African Ootott pany Is assured. Leading financiers England and the Cape are the main so porters of the enterprise, and a certa philanthropic element is not wanting. T proposed board of direotors will rigid exolude as fer »b possible admission alcohol and firearms. It Is ondeisto that the Foreign Offioe and , Colon Offioe take a favorable view of the eche • which the promoters of the pfojq ttspioj biro pat bt(jte thum, '