South-west Africa.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 8 December 1891, Page 2

South-west Africa.

j The spirit of acquisitiveness was rife | on the Germans in the year 1884. j They desired more territory in the Dark Continent and therefore sent Dr Lachtigal to the west coasfc of Africa to make annexations. These instructions Dr Nachtigal carried out to the letter, by taking all that he found legally unoccupied, except by the true rightful owners, the native inhabitants. These territories are known as Damaraland and Namaland. This land stretchd from the southern boundaries of the Portuguese territories of Angola, to the northern boundary of Cape Colony. In 1890 the European nations inter* ested in Africa straightened up their holdings, admitting that all they stole, was come by honestly, by each, and confirming each other's occupation. The Cape Colony raised a howl at being ignored in this settlement, and led the Cape Parliament to propose a series of resolutions, amongst which were, " that any proposal to interfere; with the direct control by the Parliament of this colony over Walfisch Bay territory (a property on the west coast of Damaraland, owned by the I'ritish, [ and the porfc), will be deeply resented by the people of this. colony," and " that ifc is desirable that the attention of the Government be directed to the question of levying customs at Walfisch Bay." Since the Germans " acquired " this property they " obtained " a large slice on the east coast of Africa called Mafia, the possession of which has led them to experience all fch;) expenses of a native war, which took both much time and mbney to quell. This last " possession " if they hold it, contains 344,750 square miles, and 1,755,000 original owners ! Money appears a.s of much valuo i to the German as the Jew, as our cablegrams have informed us that an j English syndicate has been formod \ to buy south west German Afr.ca fov ; three million marks or nearly jgl, 500,- j 000. The syndicate should have j made a fair bargain for them- • selves, as ignoring the native owners, l

ast hey obtain 342,000 square miles of territory at the rate of four shillings a square mile, which should be cheap, even in frica. Germany will have done well, as she has ouiy sold what she found " not legally occupied," and beyond "legally" claiming it, has done nothing for her money. This is the honesty of the European nations a * practised in this century. It is more righteous to steal land with the inhabitants dwelling thereon, than only a few of the individuals. The possession, however obtained, of this country, by the British, will' square up the boundaries of the Cape Coiony, and thus avoid the risk of conflicting interests in the future. From this view the news of the action of the syndicate is satisfactory.