SECOND EDITION NEW GUINEA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2791, 4 March 1882, Page 3

SECOND EDITION NEW GUINEA.

Lecturing on New Guinea at Wellington recently, the Rev. S. McFarlane, pioneer missionary to that island, said it was the largest and most neglected island in the world. It was discovered in 1511, and so far from gold having been recently discovered there it was known to exist there in 1528, when New 1 Guinea and the adjacent islands were called the Islands of Gold. It was called Papua from a Malay word which signified curly hair, and New Guinea from the fact that the Natives were supposed to resemble those of of the west coast of Africa. Different navigators had left records of their visits to the island, and it was known to most of them that half the island belonged to the Dutch, who claimed the whole of the North-west side. The other half belonged to the / Natives. From a political point of view, considering how near it was to Australia, he thought it would not be advisable to allow New Guinea to fall into the hands of any foreign Power. So far as the colonization of this island went, he was of opinion that the first or second companies that attempted it would lose a great deal of money, and perhaps their Jives; but money would-be made by the third or fourth. The question was, Who were to mttke the first and second attempts ? When gold was discovered in New Guinea in payable quantities, such a state of things would arise that would compel the British Government to interfere. ’ From a commercial point of view the island was of great importance, as it was 1500 miles long, and 500 miles wide in some places, while one river had been navigated for a distance of 500 miles. There was a vast extent of level and beautiful plains and, no doubt, a great deal of beautiful land which no one knew anything about, peopled by Natives who were in the same condition they bad been in for ages. Gold was the magic word that would attract population to the shores of New Guinea, but the last party of 80 diggers who went there went 60 miles into the interior, but did not find gold in payable quantities. He was glad to say that these men were well behaved and did not come into collision with the, Natives. There had been many expeditions to New Guinea for the purpose of sailing round the coast and trading with the Natives, but that sort of thing was all nonsense, and would never pay. They must make a market for the native products, and the demand would create a supply. A settlement must be formed there and the Natives informed that there was a market for their flax, cocoanuts and other things. There were immense forests of timber there, and the missionaries knew where there were ebony, ironwood, add cedar, while indications of iron and other metals had been seen. The Papuans among whom he labored were cannibals, but the MalayoPolynesians should not be called savagesjat all. Their houses wore well built in streets, their settlements were clean, and they had large cultivations. He concluded by saying that the missionaries would be glad to welcome any visitors of the right typo.