The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 31. 1883. Annexation.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 23, 31 July 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 31. 1883. Annexation.

The resolutions of the Colonial Treasurer relative to the annexation of rhe Pacific Islands were carried, with one alteration, wlrch provides tha. in the event of annexation being sane tioned on the condition of the Colonies beam g a (-hare of the expense, a statement of the sum of money thi> Colony would have to contribute >hu)\ be furnished by the Imperial Government, before Parliament is called on to adopt a course which miyht involve a serious increase on the public burdens. The wisdom ol this is beyond question, as it would not be prudent to accept obligations, the nature and extent of which were doubtful, and the future advantages problematical. The Imperial Government at Home are now awakening to the knowledge that annexation by any other Kuropean power than England must be rendered impossible, and the time has now arrived when England should assert her supremacy in the Pacific. The present state of affairs in the south seas is simply intolerable, as neither the natives or traders are under any legal control whatever, Orders in Council fail to protect or control either the English or foreign traders, who. naturally enough hold in contempt *' orders " that are merely sound and nothing more, affording neither protection for life and property nor providing the means for obtaining redress of injuries. Jn the present strained relations between England and France it may be difficult to obtain any assurances of abstention from annexation by the latter power, unless at the sword's point— especially when it is ii membered that she has 10U,000 convicts that would be let loose to demoralize the natives. All colonist> will regard this contingency with con considerable diead. Germany has no very strong desire for further annexation, her experiences havii.g been of a peculiarly unfortunate financial description. It is hoped tbat a definite assurance will be received to that effect. That the latter should have possessions in tbe Pacific would be of considerable importance in the event of a war with Franc, because fear of offending a powerful and aggressive neighbor in Europe would prevent aggression from filibustering privateers sailing under the French fla" from American ports, to prey o» British commerce in Australasia, decent telegrams have informed us that Mr Service, premier of Victoria, replying to a memorandum recently drawn up by Sir Thomas Mcllrait.h and adopted by the Queensland Government, has proposed that a convention of colonial delegates to consider the annexation question should be held in Melbourne as soon as possible. As all of the Colonies appear to be in favor of annexation, the business of the delegates will be confined to matters ot detail. The Imperial Government will be permitted to reserve to itself the right of deciding on questions of revenue and defence, provided alal ways that such decision does not bear too heavily on tho revenues of the contributing Colonies of Austrasia and New Zealand.