The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1885. NEW GUINEA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 37, 14 January 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1885. NEW GUINEA.

In a recent issue, the Melbourne Leader published an article, from which we abstract the following: — Despite the. evasion, and subterfuge of which our Agent- General m London has been made the humiliated victim m his correspondence with tbe Colonial Office respecting the rumoured annexations by Germany m the South Pacific, it now; appears that the note of alarm we sounded on the subject m The Leader of last week was only too thoroughly justified by events. Ho apology is needed on our part at so momentous a crisis m our relations to 1 adjaceny insular territories ior returning to the question, especially m view of the fact that the area of German, annexation proves to be considerably larger . : than, ,we liad at first apprehended ; and that Australia lias l>een flagitiously betrayed \>y the Imperial' Ministers w. hose express function it is to cake the colonies under the asgis of his protection. The First .Napoleon described Belgium, practically control l«d as it was m his time by France, as a pistol perpetually held up to the head of England. It is true that, the Bribinh protectorate of -IQJevsr Guinea mainly covers the southern coast of the island, which is m closest; contiguity to, Cape Yoik and the Gulf of Carpentaria. But whether the Auscralasiau; colonies should ever become aud self-governed dominion or should remain for an indefinite period integral pavtß,:-;of the; British Empire, New Guinea is charged and •readyto' Tile fired al the head of A us? .tralasia at any moment. On whatever hypothesis, wo argue, we aro utterly at the meroy of our big military neigh-,, bour. We simply enjoy the honour ot guarding the natives from, illicit ( rum sellers and clandestine invaders, aud of. being m proximity to the German authorities, without, however* owning- a single rood of soil m t-he island ourselves.