The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY AUGUST 13, 1874.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 6, 13 August 1874, Page 2

The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY AUGUST 13, 1874.

We have received a batch of papers laid by Mr Yogel upon the table of both houses .of parliament,, relative to , the South Sea Islands, their natural products, trade, resources, &c. These papers also contain the views of the Premier, on the subject of the establishment of a powerful New Zealand and Polynesian Company,- for the purpose of colonising* and securing for New Zealand the trade of the whole of the South Pacific Islands. In our last issue we gave the heads of the agreement between the Government and the promoters of the company, and from which the nature of the proposed arrarigement could easily be gathered. As: in ,the estimation of tho Premier so in that of the community at large, will the matter be regarded as a" most important 6ne±'one worthy the most careful and mature consideration. Compared with this. new scheme we conceive the great j public works and immigration policy with which the Colony has been occupied for the past .few years, sinks into insignificance. The ultimate object the Premier aims at is not only' to secure for the Colony' the whole trade of these islands, but. to establish for Great Britain a splendid dominion, ; which, like Canada* would be a British -dependency, and which, having New Zealand as its head and centre, should include the whole unappropriated islands of Polynesia. Mr. Yogel desires that this great work should be undertaken by the Colony, and thus save the mother country the trouble, danger, and risk she has, from past experience, so much cause to fear in connection with the colonisation of distant islands inhabited by aborigines. Tbe whole subject seems to r involve two distinct questions : 1. The annexation of these islands to Great Britain, ! or in some form taking' them under her protectorate, either directly or through the instrumentality of New Zealand for which latter course precedents are found in the case of Cape* Colony, &cj 2. The establishment of a large Mercantile Company to trade with those j islands under a Colonial guarantee of a ! certain per cent, of interest. As to the j first, it is well-known that for some j time past these islands . have been the [ objects of attraction to other nations. France already occupies one as a convict •-station ; and it would appear that a treaty has been entered into between Maunga> Chief of, Pago-Pago, in the Navigator Group, arid the Government of the United States. for the exclusive right of the latter to use that magnificent harbor as a coaling and naval station, and for acconnnodation for ships of war. Germany, Spain,, and Holland also have not sought. to conceal their desire to obtain ii footing in 'Polynesia. By suclr powers these islands woulcl, no doubt, be used chiefly as outlets for their convict population, and for stratagetic purposes in time of war; and to have either the convicts or the ships of war of on' enemy stationed: within a few hundred miles of our shores is certainly not a very pleasing prospect for the Colony.*; indeed,- it would seem to be absolutely necessary for the safety and preservation of her Australian Colonies that Great Britain, should endeavor to prevent these islands' being appropriated by foreign powers. They could be used ' by her as naval stations without giving

just cause f©r alarm or complaint on the part of any other nation, while -as fields for commercial enterprise to these colonies their importance can-, scarcely be, overrated. These -islands,^ hp%eyerj are, chiefly inhabited by an unPivilizc|dpopulation, and to bring these. S^Vages into a state of submission to British law and under the influences of 1 Qhristiamty would, ho doubt) be regarded as an obligation which ought to be undertaken as a consequence of. the pppropriation of 'tfreir lands. In this matter, Mr. Yogel anticipates the hesitancy of Great Britain to act directly, andsuggests that from the past experience of the Government of New Zealand in connection with the Maoris it should undertake the task, "and when the result is secured, and the commerce established, it may be recognised that New Zealand, the Colony, has done a useful. work for Great Britain the JSm:p~re," The Polynesian Scheme, the details of which have now been published for the first time, is no new idea. We find the first ministerial memoranda upon thesubiect, apldressedto his. Excellency Sir George Bowen, was written by Mr. Fox in November, 1871. Cince then a vpst amount of information regarding the South Sea Islands has. been eolhcted, aad numerous ministerial memoranda have been addressed to his Excellency upon the subject. As moved by his advisers, the latter has repeatedly addressed the Secretary of State for the Colonies upon the subject, urging, in terms as strong as official etiquette would permit, that the Imperial Government would either annex or extend its protectorate to the South Sea Islands or allow this Colony to do so on her behalf or failing this, permit the New Zealand Government to make such an arrangement ..with ,the native chiefs as would prevent annexation by foreign powers and protect New Zealand interests. The reply of Earl Kimberley, on 23rd February, 1873, is plain and decisive. He says : Her Majesty's Government are- not insensible to the fact that the increase of commerce in the Pacific; and the constant advance of European Settlement in those regions, must render the South Sea Islands of far greater interest than formerly. They are not, however, prepared to advise Her Majesty to take upon herself further direct responsibilities, such as would be entailed upon her by the assumption of sovereignty or of a protectorate oyer the Navigator Islands,Again, on the 18th November, 1873, he writes : They (Her Majesty/s (yoV'emment) would not he disposed to sanction any steps which would lay this Government .under obligations to interfere in the affairs* of these Islands.* --.*.- On 22nd October, His Excellency transmitted another ministerial memoranda, and again- urged the adoption; ofthe 1 . suggestions of his advisers. To this* Earl Kimberley replied on 10th Feb-' ruary, 1874, and the terms of that reply clearly indicates a desire that correspondence upon the subject should terminate. It simply is : j _._„.. "Upon the question of the protection of New Zear land-interests in the Navigator Islands, I have to refer you to my despatch of the 13th November, which we give above. Mr. Yogel, however, is irrepressible i and seems determined not to be thwarted? in his schemes, even* by Her MajfestyV Ministers*. Accordingly, on' 22naJtf*ae of this year he again' addressed life* Excellency upon the " arrangfeDiattte'' New Zealand might make with chiefs of the Navigator Group,*' and " expresses most strongly the opinion of Ministers that it is desirable his Excellency should urge Her Majesty's Government to* reconsider their decision, and to arrange, for the annexation of these Islands." This memorandum was] forwarded without any -remark by his j Excellency on 24th June. No reply has yet been received, and here the ' matter rests in the meantime.- It is just possible that after the decision of Her Majesty's Government has been so often and decisively communicated no reply will be considered necessary. - It is abundantly evident from the quotations we have made that Mr. Vogel' s .Polynesian Scheme, however desirable it may appear from a Colonial point, of- view,* does not meet -the^approval of the 1 Imperial Government, and we are at a loss to - understand the utility o£ occupying the time of the Assembly with a discussion of the subject during the present session. Without the sanction of the home Government no steps, can be taken towards the desired end, unless indeed the Premier should intend to sever thfe' tie which binds us "to Great Britain, and proclaim New Zealand an independent* nation. - After .the Napoleonic surprises to . which he has already treated the country, and the confidence he has in the blind, support" " of the people's representatives, it is not impossible he may have such a course in view should: Her. Majesty's Ministers; continue to obstruct his "schemes. T?iie second ,part of the subject we must reserve for a future, article, and? we observe the Premibr has promised to bring down bills to-day for the regulation of the trade with , the Polynesian Islands. !