THE ANNEXATION OF NEW GUINEA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5438, 31 August 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE ANNEXATION OF NEW GUINEA.

{Sydney Mail, 17th inst.) To what may we attribute the change that has evidently come o’er the spirit of the Tm* psrial Government’s dream in regard to New Guinea? Is it due to the alluring prospectus of the Australasian Colonisation Company of Victoria, which is seeking to put mouoy into its own purse and open out elbow-room to tho cramped up little colony ; or is tho Earl of Beaeonafield suddenly smitten with a desire to add to his already bloodless conquests ?_ The submarine cable gives us no light by which we can solve these questions. But when the British Government thinks it necessary to instruct tho Commodore of the Australian station to despatch. a war ship 'to Port Moresby to watch “British interests,” people may well ask what those interests are. In, sending a war vessel to Port Moresby, it would seem as if the British Government meant to throw its regia around any adventurers who may seek their fortunes iu the land of the Papuans ; and yet tho same message that brought us that intelligence also brought word that the Imperial Government intends to consult Sir Arthur Gordon, Governor of Fiji, on_ hia arrival in England, relative to New Guinea. Sir Arthur Gordon, previous to leaving the colonies, expressed his ideas about the proposed colonisation of the island iu a style which one of the Colonisation Company a representatives described as “bumptious and presumptuous.” He threw cold water over the <■ magnificent scheme,” and warned all persons against voluntarily placing themselves in positions of danger in a savage country, without the approval of the Imperial authority. And if the annexation of New Guinea depends upon his advice, it is very probable that the Home authorities will waive the matter for a time ; and it will be left to the “ bumptiousness and presumptuousness ” of the Australasian Colonisation Society to step into the field. There is this fact, however, which the Home Government will not be able long to the more that is known of New Guinea and its natural resources, the greater are the efforts put forth by Australian colonists to obtain homes or seek their fortunes there._ And it is quite within tbe bounds of possibility that British settlers or explorers will become so numerous, and “British interests” so important, that the Imperial authorities will be compelled to take a more decided course of action than tho sending of a war steamer would seem to imply.