ANNEXATION OF NEW GUINEA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5408, 27 July 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

ANNEXATION OF NEW GUINEA.

(From the Queenslander., July 13.)

It appears now to be certain that within a very short time the British Government will be absolutely compelled to extend its authority over New Guinea. It is true that the discovery of payable gold has not yet been reported by any of the prospecting parties-now exploring the country. Startling rumors are, however, current respecting their success, and although there is probably a very small foundation of fact to support these exaggerated rumors, yet we are inclined to believe that enough has been already discovered to prevent the abandonment of the enterprise and to secure the permanent occupation of the country by Australian settlers. If a payable goldfield should be discovered, no matter how small it might be, there is reason to fear that a rush to New Guinea would set in on a larger scale than any we have seen in Australia for many years. It is useless to argue with miners when once they have got into tiieii heads the notion that a new El Dorado awaits them. Substantial facts and sober reason are alike disregarded when once a rush has commenced, and in the case of New Guinea the minds of the miners are already prepossessed with the fixed idea that it is a laud of gold , For many years they have listened to the reports, brought by discoverers, of specks of gold seen baked in with the clay in the native pottery, of lumps of quartz containing gold picked up almost on the sea shore. Splendid tropical forests, the haunts of gorgeous birds of paradise and pigeons of many kinds, add coloring to the imaginary picture ol this diggers’ laud of promise, the distance and the fact that less is known about this country than about any other spot of earth, add the attractive element of mystery, and make it to the Australian miner what the unknown empire of the Incas was to the followers of Bizarre The mining population of both Victoria and New South Wales is at present in a very unsettled mood ; the known alluvial deposits ol those colonies are now almost worked out and return mere wages to the comparatively small number of men who work upon them. The higher levels in the quartz reefs, too, are worked out, and gold mining in those colonies is now practically closed against those who have not the to provide the machinery required for working at great depths. Thousands of men who onewere independent miners are now working fot wages in the large mines, or employed in othei occupations, waiting impatiently for the next good rush. Even in Queensland, though our gold-mining industry is perhaps more flourishing than that of. either of the other colonies, yet many men are only “ hanging on,” waiting for the chance which a fresh discovery would open to them ; about 1000 men, we are told, have lately rushed to the Ooeu, though there has been no discovery reported which would warrant their going there. We believe, therefore, that if payable gold be discovered in New Guinea, and we expeel to hear of .Snob a discovery before long, then will—in spite of all the warnings of the Pres—be snob a rush of diggers from all parts of the Australian- colonies as will remind ns. o) the rashes of twenty-five years ago. We shall certainly lose a large portion of our mining population. The distance from Cooktown ti Port Moresby Is not great, and the men who have become acclimatised on the Palmer and Hodgkinson will not be frightened by the Nen Guinea fever. If such a rush takes place, theBritish Government -will .be compelled b annex Now Guinea, or at least the eastern halt of the island, which at present is not claimed by any Power, for we can scarcely believe that even the peace-at-auy-prioe party would permit a foreign Government to take possession of a territory which was explored and occupied by British subjects; whilst it is evident that some civilised power must establish a Government thereby soon as a white population has taken possession of the country. If, however, there are good reasons for believing that this territory must very shortly be brought under-British rule, we may go a step further and say that it should be done at once. It is obvious that it wHI be insiir aud in every way better that a proper Government shall be established before the commencement of a state of -anarchy, aud possibly conflicts between the natives and invaders, have Increased the difficulties with which it will have to struggle.