Unoccupied Islands.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2103, 12 May 1898, Page 3

Unoccupied Islands.

The New South Wales Minister of Lands recently, inferred to the fac' that there, are" still s large number of unoccupied islands in the Pacific and adjacent to the shores of Austra lia. ‘ The greatest danger to Australia in the future * he said, ‘is not to be fe&red from internal dissensions, but fi’om foreign occupancy “f those islands iiftsSbe Pacific which are nowßO-mau’s land. Two-thirds of New Guinea belong' to two foreign nations, neither of whom lov6 us, and New Caledonia 'is held by the- French.; With those advantages at the disposal of foreign Powers, we might find ourselves compelled some day to* face heavy yv&v taxation for the purpose ,;of repelling aii, invasion, made by, a-foe. with a strong base bf operations -at our. yery doors. America would not now be about to enter upon the greatest war she has undertaken if she had taken possession of the island of Uuba early in the history of the Federated States, and at a time when it was really no - man’s* land. Federation: under the Convention BUI would remove for all time this—-thp greatest obstacle to the future Well-being of Australia,’’