FRENCH ANNEXATION OF THE NEW HEBREDIES.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 93, 12 July 1879, Page 2

FRENCH ANNEXATION OF THE NEW HEBREDIES.

The Noumea correspondent of tin; Sydney Morning Herald thus writes on tho ahovo subject on the 12th April':— The French war steamer Sogond returned on tlie loth from her visit with Admiral due Petit Thouars to the New Hebrides. Now the wiseacres who knew tor certain that the expedition was made for the purpose for anuoxingthese islands, know to the contrary. The impression convoyed l>v the visit is in accordance with the opinion so often expressed hero by those who do know, to the effect that ilie French have, in New Caledonia, all they need -and rather more of lad—amongst the savage islands of the South Seas. The opinion of the value of tbe.se island* lias not been rendered more favourable by tie; visit. Tin; Nouvelle Caledonio deplores, in a leading article, that '/once more nothing is done; all the efforts made to induce the Government to annex the Government to annex these desirable islands have failed. Always the same thing I Experience if thrown away, and the day is probably not far oil", when England, recognising the importance of these islands, will occupy them," to the injury of Frauceand New Caledonia in particular, is inferred.

The officers of the expedition seem to think that both Franco and England know better than to trouble themselves about any of the group. One opinion seems very general amongst the authorities here, which is that Now Caledonia is allsufficient for the purposes of France in this part of the globe. A very high opinion has been expressed by leaders of the expedition relative to tho "excellent Invaluable moral effect of the hanging of Mr. ICasterbrook's murder at Tanna Islands, carried out iu so impressive a manner lost year by Lieutenant Catlyu, of one of 11..M. schooners,