The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 943, 3 July 1877, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1877.

A pew clays ago it was announced from Auckland that the United States had annexed the Samoan group. Should this intelligence prove true, this will be the first instance in which the great Bepublic has added to her territory outside the limits of the American continent. It is entirely at variance with what is called the Monroe doctrine. According to it no Europoan power is to be allowed to interfere with the progress of republicanism on that continent, and as a natural consequence the republic in turn has abstained from seeking to create new states outside America. If the American flag therefore has been hoisted in the Samoan group, we question whether it has been clone with the consent of the Government of the United States. Prom papers to hand from Auckland we learn that a short time ago a deputation from the principal chiefs from Samoa waited on Sir Arthur Gordon, and presented a petition to the Queen asking her to extend her protectorate over their group. In reply, His Excellency said : —" You ask for protection ; but this is a wide word, and the possibility of granting it depends entirely on the nature of what is asked for. I hope, therefore, that you will lose no time in obtaining from those who sent you a full explanation on the subject. If your wishes are such as appear reasonable, I will do my best to support them ; but the Queen of Great Britain will not assume undefined and uncertain responsibilities, nor could I advise that Her Majestey should do so. I am, however, sure that there will be a desire on the part of Her Majesty's Government to consider your wishes with attention when once they are clearly and plainly made known; and I shall myself be anxious to comply with any request you may make of me, if it be in my opinion consistent with my duty and your own true welfare. You will probably find an English ship of war at Apia on your return; but I must warn you that it is impossible for an English ship of war to interfere either in the internal disputes, or the differences with Foreign Powers, of a State, over the Government of which Great Britain has no control, and for the action of which she is not responsible." The failure of the deputation to obtain a definite reply from Sir Arthur Gordon, may have induced the chiefs to throw themselves into the hands of the American Acting-Consul, Whether

his Government will endorse the action of their agent, remains to be seen. If they do, England will have missed the opportunity of gaining possession of one of the most valuable group of islands in that part of the Pacific.

Tub lightness of the calendar for trial at the Supreme Court this session affords matter for congratulation. Notwithstanding that our population has largely increased, it is a gratifying fact to be able to record that offences against the law are on the decrease. Those cases which are for trial are none of them of a grave nature, and there is a marked absence of that of forgery, which for many sessions has formed so large a proportion of the work before the Judge and the juries. We hope this is an indication of a better state of things, and that it is due to the determination expressed by his Honor—and carried practically into effect by the imposition of severe sentences —to put a stop to a class of offence which had become very rife amongst us. In a community like this, where so large a proportion of the business transactions have to be carried on by cheque, it is of great importance that anything which would induce distrust and suspicion, and consequent impeding of commercial matters, should be at once checked. The absence from our calendar this time of all but a single case of forgery proves that the course adopted by his Honor has had the desired effect. It only wants the active co-operation of tradespeople in the matter of exercising great caution in changing cheques for strangers to reduce the commission of this crime to a minimum. In comparing the present calendar with those which have preceded it, the fact must be borne in mind that the present is the worst season of the year. "Work is scarce, and consequently temptations to commit crime greater. Hence the very unimportant class of offences brought before the Court this session is still more indicative of the fact that, taken as a whole, the population of the district is a law abiding one.