The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 428, 24 May 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1879.

Oua Australian neighbours appear to be exposed to a new species of immigration, almost as distasteful to them as that of the Chinese. A few years ago Sydney was rather proud to receive from New Caledonia some escaped political prisoners, men who had led the Commune in 1871, and had been liberal in their use of petroleum. Sydney was rather proud, we say, for she felt that she was recognized as the sanctuary to which the oppressed and down-trodden could safely fly. This flattering recognition has since been repeated ad manseam. It no longer seems a great and noble thing to protect the victims of tyranny. But the cry is still “ They come.” The French authorities have a charming way of letting prisoners escape. This method is found to be much less troublesome than the ticket-of-leave system. There are also prisoners who have served their time, but who are forbidden to return to France; these also express great love for Australia Felix. Within the last three months, 'fifty of this latter class have presented themselves to the In-spector-General of Police, and applied for free railway passes. The French Consul in Sydney says, in explanation, “ I send these men to you, because I am convinced it is better to have them away in the interior than to keep them in the city, where they would be most likely to give your department a great deal of trouble.” Rather cool, we think! Complaints have been made to the Governor of New Caledonia, who expressed his surprise that Australia should object to a fair exchange ; “ Wo entered no protest when drunken Australian diggers swarmed over here,” said he. Rather cool again, Monsieur ! There can be no doubt that the colonies which long ago refused English convicts, will not submit to be made the receptacle of those of France. Yet prosecution may be difficult, and may lead the parties concerned over delicate ground. The French authorities evidently intend the interest they are taking in the Sydney Exhibition as a sop to keep New South Wales quiet. Sut it will not do; the colonists will not receive the worst of criminals by hundreds, for any consideration that France can give: Nothing can better illustrate the folly of allowing a foreign power to bold any possession in our neighborhood, than this difficulty. New Caledonia should certainly have been a British colony, if not for its own sake, yet for the sake of its great neighbours. It occupies a central position in.a circle of colonies that will be completed sooner or later, we hope, by the colonisation of New Guinea. This central position would have given it great importance in future. But, as things are, it can only be an important evil. As a sink for the moral filth of France, it may trouble these colonies for generations to come. Mention of New Guinea leads us to ■ remark that something ought to be done.

at once, with respect to that great country. The best way to secure peace for community of states that will by and by exist here in the South, will be to keep all possible enemies at a distance. One dog can’t fight, they say, and perhaps one nationality would be less likely to fight than two. That the presence of temptation to evil helps us to cultivate virtue, may, in a measure, be true ; still we would gladly dispense with the temptation. It is to be hoped that these colonies will not help their posterity to cultivate a love of peace, by permitting foreigners to take possession of New Guinea, and make it a centre of revolution and lawlessness. Already there is a report of an Italian expedition to that famous island. It is headed by Menotti Garibaldi, son of the famous general, and is to consist of four screw steamers, and three thousand men. More than thirty of these are or have been, members of the Italian Parlia—ufient. It is said that money to the extent of thirty millions of francs or £1,200,U00, is at the disposal of the adventurers. Applications to join the expididition are said to be pouring in at the late of two hundred a day; from these numerous applicants the best are picked. The pioneers are to choose the site of the colony, and found a city to be called Italia. Besides weapons oi war and instruments of agriculture, and tools for building, they are provided with printing presses, and even with an ocean cable to connect New Guinea with Australia. All this seems very ambitious, and may end in a ridiculous failure, but then, it. may not; it may end in “ making New Guinea the point of attraction for that 60,000 to 65,000 poor emigrants who leave the shores of Italy every year to find more miserable fate in the republics of South America.” What then ? Misrule and anarchy will probably be established at our very doors; for if once the scheme succeds, it is not likely that New Guinea, or at least the part occupied by the Italians, will ever, be brought under British rule unless by force. We do not envy these poor people a. home, but oimply think that the country should be distinctly claimed by the British, so that British government might be erected from one end of it to the other, at any time when such a course seemed desirable.