THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1849, 26 January 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 1880.

Geeat interest has of late been manifested in German movements in connection with the Samoan Group, a group about which a good deal at one time or another has been said in the New Zealand Parliament. In 1874 a resolution was adopted in the Legislative Council, and the attention of her Majesty’s Government was drawn to the great importance of deciding without delay as to what was to be done with the group. The central position of the islands, the excellence of one of the harbors, and the facilities it would afford for coaling for mail steamers to San Francisco were all adverted to. And then came Sir Julius Vogel’s South Sea scheme, by which New Zealand was to absorb the South Sea trade and direct into its ports the varied products of the islands for manufacture or distribution. It is a matter of history now that nothing came of this pot scheme of the then Premier, and that no stops were taken with regard to the Samoan group by the Imperial Government. The matter, however, has apparently been taken up in another quarter, and that through somewhat singular circumstances. The failure of commercial house of Godeff roy has stirred up the patriotic or commercial instincts of the German nation to the extent of a resolve to found what may be called a national company to step into the blank formed by the late crash. A company has been formed in Berlin with a capital of eight million marks, which is to carry on Godfferoy’s business, a business which, as is well known, absorbed more than three-fourths of tho entire Polynesian trade. And in connection with this now company all sorts of rumours and statements as to Germany’s intentions in the South Pacific have become current. The Prussian Finance Minister has said that the Reichstag intend to give essential support to tho German interests at Samoa, and tho naval commanders have been instructed to use the utmost energy in restoring peace in tho group, and it has been further mooted that Germany intends to acquire some of the South Sea Islands, presumably from political motives. It is more than probable, however, that the scope of Germany’s intentions has been greatly exaggerated. “ Omne ignotum pro magnifico” is a wellseasoned preverb, and is more true than the majority of sweeping assertions, At present all that can be known of what Germany intends to do is pure conjecture, and the most has been made out of the scattered hints that have been dropped. But, arguing from fact, it is difficult to see what Germany would gain from tho annexation of the Samoan or other groups. Tho Germans possess no extensive countries in these latitudes, in reference to which any island would act as a sort of halfway house. It is difficult to see what use any number of coaling stations would be to a power who has no particular object in cruising about in these waters. The annexation such as mooted could only be for purposes of offence in case the Fatherland engaged in war with a foreign power, or for tho purpose of forming a penal settlement. As to any idea of forming a purely German colony that is most unlikely. The climate of the Samoan group is hotter than even that of the Feejees, and it is not probable that one of the first attempts as the formation of a Gorman colony would bo made under such unfavourable circumstances. Place four Englishmen on an island, and they immediately form themselves into a committee with a chairman possessed of a casting vote, and things at once run smoothly, but Gormans have no colonizing instincts, and a purely German colony to succeed would have to bo formed under favourable auspices. And as to the Gorman Government guaranteeing the new company, that also is unlikely. Sir J. Vogel’s scheme embraced the guaranteeing of 5 per cent, to the New Zealand Company that was to bo started, but it is improbable that the more cautious politicians in Berlin would commit themselves to such a hazardous undertaking. Possibly all that will be done will bo to guarantee tho permanence of any treaties that may be made with tho native chieftains. It would naturally bo a deathblow to any company, if, haying come to some sort of an understanding with a local potentate, the interests of tho former lay completely at the mercy of the latter, and it would be impossible for a power not to interfere on behalf of its own subjects. Looking at tho strength of the English colonies in these quarters, and tho small likelihood that Germany can gain anything by

setting up for a South Pacific power, the hysterics into which some of the Northern journals hare fallen on the subject are rather amusing. With regard to the state of affairs that has just passed away, one cannot help regretting the downfall of a commercial house which has, at all times, exercised its power to the advancement of scientific knowledge. The house of Godeffroy was a liberal patron of men of science, and the head of the firm possessed, perhaps, the finest private museum in the world, presided over by a well paid curator. The numberless agencies in the various groups of islands furnished the material out of which this museum was formed. But the power of the house had long been waning, not only in its connection with the Samoan group—a connection formed in 1875 by an arrangement formed with a Colonel Steinbergor, an American, who had become virtually Prime Minister of Samoa —but in its other branches things had not been going smoothly. Moreover in Hamburg, one of the family, though not absolutely in connection with the firm, had years ago come to very extensive grief, and it is possible that the firm to uphold the name of Godeffroy may have made considerable sacrifices. Anvhow the late commercial depression has told its tale. The amount of capital locked up in machinery and the other items in connection with their peculiar trade, must have been enormous, and, when pressure came, the crash could not be averted. However, the new company should have a brighter prospect before it. The shares have, by all accounts, been eagerly taken up in Germany, except in Hamburg. This latter was to have been expected. There is still much soreness of feeling amongst the commercial men in Hamburg. Before the Austro Prussian war, this city hold a high position. It was a free town, and led the van in commercial matters. But when Prussia rode rough shod over Austria, Hamburg, Bremen, Frankfort, and other unfortunates found that they had taken up the wrong side, and were forced into the North Gorman Confederacy. Consequently the Hamburgers do not feel amiably towards any scheme that may be taken up in Berlin, more particularly when the said scheme has at one time been monopolized by a fellow citizen. Now Zealanders can well afford to wish the new company “ God-speed,” as it will conflict with no existing interest.