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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1317, 16 June 1883, Page 2

The faint-hearted manner in which the Imperial authorities have treated the efforts put forth by the Queens land Government to annex New Guinea is dispiriting. For many years past the Australian Colonies have east jealous and covetous glances at that important island, and a feeling of universal satisfaction was experienced by the Sister Colonies when the telegrams announced that formal possession of it had been taken by the Queensland Government in the name of that Soverign on whose Empire the sun never sets. (If all the Australian Colonies, Queensland on account of its juxtaposition was most fitted for incurring the great responsibility it undertook. That Colony, too, would be the first to reap the advantages arising out of the annexation. From the latest intelligence from home on the subject, it is elicited that not withstanding the urgent appeals from the Colonies for the annexation of New Guinea, forwarded to the Secre tary of State, the Imperial Government deemed it unadvisable to yet add lhat jewel to the British Crown Hr Gladstone and his M ni<Ty while refusing to allow New Guinea to be come an appanage of the •'olonv of Queensland, have als > set their faces against making it a (Town Colony; but a compromise is affected by the extremely feeble concession, of allowing the colonists “ to establish trading stations on the Island,” The solemn responsibilities attached to taking pos--ession of an L'and with a population, estimated to equal nearly oue-third of

I England itself, must have app« ared rather appalling to the great L<l icral leader of the British House or < ommons. So, with the doubtful pnv ilege of being allowed to form trs ding stations along the Coast of .New Guinea —a privilege, the people of any nation who care to run the ristk <>t periodical massacres at the hands of savage tribes—are equally entitled to without British sanction—Queensland for the present must rest satisfied I'he Colonies feel disappointed at the decision arrived at by the British Government Apart from the advantages arising out'of commerce and settlement, other considerations in the minds of the Co!oni-ts favored the annexation of New Guinea A feeling of apprehension exists that- any foreign power in possession ot that country, and in such close proximity to the Colonies might, in little of war, exercise relations of a menacing character. Although Queensland offered to bear all the cost of Inking possession of the Island, the British Government still remained unmoved into acquiescence. Much jealousy was aroused in Italy and other countries when it was known that Queensland had despatched the Kesident Magistrate from Thursday Island to hoist, on the 4th April last, in New Guinea, “ the flag tn.at’s braved a thousand years, the battle and the breeze.” lhe tone adopted in certain Italian newspapers was one of chagrin and disappointment at what they considered being forestalled. France too, unsuccessful as she always has been, as a colonizing power, seems to be awakening to the importance of -ecuring possessions, in these seas. The Colonies are alive to this fact, and, tollowing in the footsteps of Queersland, a deputation consisting of a number of members of Parhamen', and clergymen, at Melbourne, on the 6th instant, waited upon the Victorian Government to urge the importance of the Colonies taking united action for the purpose of moving the Imperial Government to annex several groups of Islands in the South Pacific; or to establish a protectorate over them. The Premier, the tlon. James Service, cordially supported the m ivetnent and expressed his conviction that it was England’s special mission to civilize and elevate the dark races. How far the civilization and refinement of the dark races, will ultimately succeed at the hands of their whiter brethren, is a subject upon which opinions may vary, But of this we may rest a-surred that a wide departure from Mr. Gladstone's policy with reference to New Guinea will be necessary, before any such favorable result will be achieved lhe more establishment of “ trading stations” will not effectuate the ob ject desired. Resolutions pas-ed bv the Colonial Legislatives should tend to largely influence the Home Govern meutinits det rmiuation to further |as far as possible the wishes of the Colonies in the Pacific—acquisitions that will, in time to come, be destined to form integral parts oi the Great Empire of the South. As indicating the importance the question of establishing British rule over the Islandin the South Pacific is assuming, it will be observed from His Excellency’s speech at the opening of Parliament that special reference is made to the subject. Victoria, secure of the cooperation of all the Colonies of Australia, has telegraphed to the NewZealand Government, invited its con certed action in the appeal to be made co the Imperial parliament. Ihe danger of those Islands falling inlo the hands of a Foreign power is obvious. It is therefore gratifying to find that His Excellency Nir William Jervoih has telegraphed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, expressing on behalf of this Colony his full concurrence in, and th.desirability of acceding to. the proposals made by the Victorian Govern ment. Sir George Grev has also taken the matter in hand, having given notice of his intention to inrroduce a bill this session for the purpose of facilitating the annexa'ion of Islands in the Pacific, which, in the interests of this Colony, it might he desirable to so annex. lhe Victorian Government having made a decided move in the ' direction of annexation, even though they be pre mature in so doing, as we learn by wire the Melbourne “ Argus ” deemhem to be, nevertheless the ice has been unmistakeably broken, and England is not likely to repeat her errorof the last century with respect to her American Colonies, by refusing to grant to Australia, her rations demands for co-operation towards ex tending the great dominion of the future Britain of the South