BRITISH MAN-OF-WAR AT THE ISLANDS. Proposed Parliamentary Action. Wellington, June 10.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 156, 12 June 1886, Page 3

BRITISH MAN-OF-WAR AT THE ISLANDS. Proposed Parliamentary Action. Wellington, June 10.

Assuming that the French intend annexing the Naw Hebrides, their proceedings will bo watched by the British authorities. It baa transpired that Borne time ago two British war-vessels—the Undine and the Raven— had arrived at Noumea en route for the New Hebrides, and the newspapers of that place were anxiously inquiring what it meant. It la quite within the rang© of possibility that there may yet be considerable trouble over these annexation proposals. The Premier has received from Lord Carnngton the following cablegram, which he read to the House yesterday :—"Sydney, June 7.—On receipt of the Consul's letter trom New Caledonia, I sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies the following telegram: 'Latest news from Biitiah Consul at New Caledonia The French man-of-war Dives left for the New Hebrides on the 30th May, taking on board troops and provisions for three months, and put into fighting order. It is supposed that their intention is to hoist; the French national flag The senior officer of tho Ordnance Department, with transports, was to proceed to the New Hebrides the day after with timber and corrugated iron for barracka. Entrance to New Caledoaia repented watched.'" The Auckland Committee appointed at a recent public meeting re New Hebrides yesterday wired to the Premier as follows:— "Notwithstanding to-day's" telegram re New Hebrides, this committee, on behalf of the community, renews emphatically the protest and begs the transmission of a protest to the Home Government.— B. T. Dudley (Chairman), M. Haultain (Convener).' Sir George Grey received a similar telegram. Further papers relating to the proposed acquisition of the New Hebrides by Franco were laid on the table of the House yesterday afternoon. On April 22nd, Earl GranviUe wrote as follows to the agents-General for the Australasian colonies:—The French Government have explained that a further supply of labour must be provided for their islands in the Western Pacific, and that for this purpose they must send out further convicts unless they can secure the necessary labour by acquiring the .New Hebrides. If this were agreed to, the French Government would not only abstain from sending lorward the convicts which they are proposing to send, but would cease at once and permanently to transport convicts to the Western Pacific. The result which colonists have very strongly and repeatedly urged Her Majesty's Government to secure as being of the highest importance to the welfare of Australasia can thus be now attained. You will, no doubt, readily understand that in the event of HerMajeety'sGoverument rejectingat tho instance of some of the Australian Governments this offer to discontinue the transport (especially if that offer should be accompanied, as the Government of New Zealand, supported by that of New South Wales, urges that it should be, by an offer of the cession of Rapa), the position of Her Majesty's Government in pressing hereafter the objection of tho colonies to the transport station of convicts to French soil would be much weakentd, I am ah'o to observe that, as the French Government -will certainly not consent to the establishment of the authority of any other Power in the New Hebrides, which form a part of the same geographical group with New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands; and in which French enterprise has made considerable progrese, there is little chance of such a modification of the existing agreement so as to insure the New Hebrides becoming a British possession, and that if satisfactory facilities for trade and adequate securities for religious freedom can be obtained,as well as the total cessation ot transportation of convicts by France to the Pacific together with the cession of Rapa, such arrangements would be to the advantage of the Australasian colonies." Mr Moss intends to ask the Government if they will communicate with the Governments of the other Australian Colonies to t ascertain if it be practicable, so long as French convicts are sent to the Pacific, to unite in preventing intercourse with trading vessels coming from Frenoh colonial ports until it shall have been proved to the satisfaction of a competent officer at the port of arrival that such vessels have not among their passengers or crew any person who is a convict, or who has been a convict within the previous three years. The "New Zealand Times'' says;—Wo can hardly believe that Mr Gladstone would consent to declare war against France merely because the latter had annoyed certain Australian colonies by seizing some islands in the Pacific which England individually has no objection to her acquiring on conditions. It has always seemed to us a pity that the acquisition by France of New Hebrides was not arranged on these conditions. If i France would in return have, ceded, Kapa, "the Malta of tho Pacific," relinquished, transportation of recidivestes to the Pacific, and guaranteed equal rights of trade at the New Hebrides, all of which it is understood she was prepared to do in return for, permission to annex the latter islands. It/lappears to ua that such an arrangement wbulof have been very satisfactory. We do not ignore tho considerations urged by those who advocate withholding the Hebrides" from' France at all costs: Vyeheld that -haVing* regard to all- circumstances; alternative plans ■werepreferable'.» s It^lttbe-itiWeating to see'-what is the htixti moye 1 in th'e^great game *2f2 f c¥?& utwe. greatly^ fear-England has iSiSSSS^ JlffiSSS 91* of as