Wanawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1892. New Guinea.

Manawatu Herald, 29 March 1892, Page 2

Wanawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1892. New Guinea.

» Papua, or New Guinea is practically an unknown country. In the sixteenth centuiy Holland claimed possession of the north west half of the island, and the eastern portion, that which lies directly opposite Cape York peninsula in Queensland was independent till 1884. It was then divided between England and Germany lengthwise, the most northern portion going to Germany. The first appearance of New Guinea is that of a bold and mountanious country, the highest range on the island, the Charles Louis, beiggi nearly seventeen thousand feet high. There are many good harbours, and the rivers, especially on the southeast coast bring down enormous quantities of fresh water. Travel in the interior is rough and difficult. Of the great centre of the island nothing really is known. New Guiuea has a large population, and the people are split up into an immense number of tribes, each of which is isolated and separate from its neighbour. The natives on the west and north-west have a considerable admixture of Malayan blood. All tropical trees and fruit grow abundantly* The most im* pertont export It b«thc>d«*mer,

pearlshell, copra, gum, sago, arrowroot and spices of all kinds. Gold has been found but riot in paying quantities. 'J he territory was first taken over by Britain as a Protectorate under the management of a Special Commissioner ; but on the Colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria undertaking to guarantee £15,000 a year for the cost of administration, which was further secured by a Queensland Act, the Queen's sovereignty was formally proclaimed on the 4th September 1888, and the territory was constituted as a colony under the name of British New Guinea. It is governed by an Administrator, (Sir W. MacGregor) with a nominated Legislative .Council consisting of not less than two. parsons besides the Administrator. A company has been recently formed for the purpose of exploring and opening up the interior, under the management of Mr J. C. Kerry. This gentleman has orossed the island, besides journeying largely into the interior. In 1885; when an expedition fitted out by* the Boyal Geographical Sooiety of Australasia, and led by Captain Everill ascended the Fly river, an impression got abroad that the members had been massacred, and this Mr Kerry volunteered to go in search of them, and brought back tidings of their safety, The y Germans have also been making;, efforts to develope their tevritory.an this island, but have met with most conspicuous bad luck. The climate to strangers is very unhealthy, "and the natives themselves suffer from faver, though it is not severe. Advices received from German New Guinea show that 800 out of 450 Chinese imported there to grow tobacco, since October, have died from fever, dysentry, or influenza. * Several other shipments have also been generally thinned by death. A large number of natives recruited'from the Bismarck Archipelago are also dying at a fearful rate. Several of the stations have now been abandoned, and the German Company must have spent up to date quite half a million of money with but very poor results! We may expect therefore that our neighbours' in this portion of the Pacific will soon make proposals to rid themselves of this colony in the same manner that: they have cleared out of Africa, that is, handing them over to the premier colonising nation of the world—Great Britain.