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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1327, 10 July 1883, Page 2

The Imperial Parliament has set its face against the colonies, individually, annexing islands in the South Pacific. The annexation of New Guinea by Queensland, the Home Government have distinctly refused to confirm. Technically, according to Mr Gladstone, the action of that colony in deputing the Resident Magistrate of Thursday Island to take possession of New- Guinea in the name of Her Majesty was null and void in point of law, and altogether unwarranted by the surrounding circumstances. Other reasons also actuate the Imperial authorities in their opposition to the wishes of the colonies. Lord Derby dreads the possibility of wars with the aboriginal inhabitants—a contingency by no means unlikely to arise. The expense of administering the government of such a great extent of territory as is comprised in New Guinea, also weighed heavily agaiust granting the concessions so much hoped for by the Queenslanders. The worst feature for this country in the whole affair is that the Government at home are equally opposed to New Zealand annexing the New- Hebrides. They suggest as a remedial course that the colonies Should federate. Strengthened by union, they w-ould be better able to bear the responsibilities of

administering the affairs of the | islands of the South Pacific, and ’ England could rest easier in her mind as to the question of ways and means. Sir G-eorge Grey claims for his Annexation and Confederation Bill, now before Parliament, that it agrees almost identically with the course proposed by Mr Gladstone. Sir George Grey’s object is to empower by Act of Parliament the Governor of New Zealand, which of course means the Ministry of the day, to appoint a Commission to negotiate for islands near New Zealand, and not occupied by a foreign power. The duty of the Commission would be to report to the Home Government, with a view, if the negotiations were satisfactory, to getting the Imperial sanction for annexation. If this measure does become law, it is extremely doubtful if any real progress will be gained toward the end desired. The main point of leaving the question of annexing these islands to the colonies as a whole, and put forward by the Home Government as a sine c/ua non, to their assent, seems in Sir George Grey’s Bill to be overlooked.