FRENCH COLONIES IN THE PACIFIC.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 888, 18 October 1854, Page 2 (Supplement)

FRENCH COLONIES IN THE PACIFIC.

[From the Shipping Gazette, July 4.] Amongst other evils resulting from the Continental war now raging is that apathetic indifference to colonisation mid to the condition of our colonies on the part tf the Legislature and merchants, which, if permitted to prevail, will result in great dissatisfaction abroad, aud in a decline of much of our commerce, which will fall into tbe hands of others. L i be considered that we are now nnived al a position to do without these great adjuncts of prosperity—ships, colonies, and commerce—it will he well to find some equa.ly important suhstitures to sustain our wealth and to aid our national progress. Whilst expressing our readiness to abandon sir colonies,to give them independence wherever burdensome, there is no disposition to accord to them the distribution of their own patronage, the appointment of their own public officers, ar a voice in legislation. Their remonstrances and local grievances are •comparatively unheeded, and their indignant refusal -o receive our outcast fellons is a crime of the highest order.

Whilst contributing largely to the revenue and prosperity of the mother country, the colonist is unrepresented in Parliament, and Jaws are enacted for his guidance thousands of miles off, by individuals utterly ignorant of their eppiicahildy to the wants and requirements of the colonies. 'Their grievances are unheard or unheeded, and their petitions or remonstrances consigned to the dark recesses of the Colonial Office bureaus.

Whilst Great Britain, hitherto the great colonising Ration of the world, is drawing in her lines of exteniion, France, the United States, and otl,ci naituus, me increasing their possessions. Our merchants seem obstinately blind to the vast resources and importance of the many splendid groups which stud the Pacific Ocean.

The French are gradually extending their dominions in the Pacific. Hiving once firmly established themselves m Tahiti, the subjugation ot the neighbouring islands became easy, and was speedily effected, without much consideration as to the validity of their proceedings. 'They have not only made good their footing in the Society Islands ami Gambler’s Islands, but have planted themselves m tbe Austral group, and more recently have taken under their dominion tho whole ol tbo Paumotu or Pearl Islands—known among mariners os tho dangerous Archipelago—an immense number ot low coral islands, containing a population ot about ten thousand souls. The seizure of the .Marquesas was effected without any plea for “protection.” 'J Leir attempts on the Sandwich Islands have been foiled from time to time by the firmness of the Hawaiian Government, Prance has, howevt r, obtained almost an exclusive possession of what may be termed Eastern Polynesia: and the next step will probably bo the occupation of some portion of .New Guinea, trance, remaiks a Sydney paper, has only now to get a footing in Tonga, and she will have formed a chain ot po-ts be tween the British colonies in Australia and New Zealand, and the northern regions ot the Pacific. Even as it is the chain is partly complete, but 'Tonga and us dependencies Will make it more so ; and in all pio alnli y this link will not be long wanting. The strong military and naval force concentrated in New Cull donia are certainly not required (or the mere occupation of that I.laiul, but are evidently intended to carry out the objects to vvlToh we have alluded —the establishment of a chain of posts or settlements . cross Polynesia, which will insure to them the possession of political and comi,uncial supremacy in those magnificent regions, justly termed the West Indies of the Pacific. 'The New South Wales colonists having got lid of convicts within their own territories, ate not anxious to have a Frensh convict colony in such close proximity ns New Caledonia. Should it. be intended only as a trading post and fur legitimate colonization, very beneficial relations may be carried on between it ami Sydney.

If, observes a colonial correspondent, we except New Zealand, which is out of the range of the chain in (juo-i----tioti, New Caledonia is without a rival in the isles of the I’acilic. Its extent, its harbour, Port M. Vincent, which is said to have no superior anywh. re, its clima.e, its streams ami forests, and above till, its proximity to .Australia, these place it at the head of ho great Island family to winch it belongs. It will doubtless become a centre point between thiso and the Australian colonies, a common meeting place, a general mart, into which island produce and colonial exports will be poured and exchanged. . There lias long been a French Missionary establishment at Woodlark Island, a place almost in sight of the eastt nr coast ol Now Guinea. Between this place and Ballade a communication has now been opened, and the island will, probably, be tsken formal possession of ns a key to further operations on the eastern coast of New Guinea- A British settlement at Cape York, which has been so long talked of, will then bo of the slightest advantage. Gold has frequently been obtained from the natives of Now Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Kevv Caledonia; and there is no doubt that far more extensive and important discoveries of gold and other mines also are yet to he made in those sporadic groups of the Pacific Ocean. '1 lie development of their various resources is destined to exercise upon the commerce, wealth, and political and social condition of the Pacific, the most important and permanent influences. The Sydney journals recommend, as a measure ot self-defence, that wo should occupy the Fejee group,

or construct a native Federal Government, under (!ritis!i protection, like that existing at the lonian Isles There is no doubt of the desirability of this step as a break in tuo French chain of posts ; hnt the recommendation comes at a very inopportune period, and will, we fear, receive very little attention at the present time. From the great extent and surprising fertility of the Fcjoe Archipelago, it has of late years attracted a greater share of attention among Polynesian traders than perhaps tiny other of the surrounding groups, notwithstanding the unenviable reputation of the tribes wh* inhabit it. Numbers of Europeans, we are told, have settled for purposes of trade in various parta of the group, and its harbours are frequented by ships of all nations, particularly by those of Australia and of the United States. Appeals have frequently been made from this quarter for British interference and protecjion, bur hisherto without effect. Her Majesty’s ships Herald and Torch were inrtructed to visit the Glands, hut lor v\ hat purpose we know not. The value and itupoitunco of this Archipelago, in a commercial point of view, cannot he over estimated, whether as regaids situation, climate, or productions. In po itiou it is the most central and commanding of the many groups which constitute the “ Island World” of the Pacific.

It will he wise if, amidst the Continental disturbances now agitating Europe, we do not overlook other end more distant quarters, where our national posit.on and commercial interests areat slake, Brush commerce requires the ryes of Argus, and too many nations are ready to forestall us, and will gladly seize upon what we overlook or despise as beneath present notice.