The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4620, 25 October 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1883.

The business to be brought forward at the Conference appointed to be held in Sydney next month, regarding annexation, is of the most vital importance to this colony, more especially to the northern portion of it. The commercial benefits to be derived by the colony generally, aqd by the Auckland and contiguous provinces particularly, are of no ordinary kind, and have been freely canvassed by us in previous issues, as well as by the Northern Press as a whole, The present business transactions between Auckland and certain of the South Pacific Isles is in itself a sufficient inducement to merchants, and others interested in trade, to not only make every effort towards securing a continuance of the relations now existing, but to extend the connection opened up, in every possible way, and any increase in the number of communities i who may trade with us should be encouraged as far as it can be. This business relationship, however, is not the only incentive which should induce the people to wish, and help to cause, the annexation of several Southern islands to the British Colonies, if the Home Government do not care about their possession. The French Government have apparently determined on following a course which is fraught with danger to all the colonies, but more particularly to Queensland and New Zealand, The latest intelligence to hand on the subject, is that a large deportation of the worst class of French criminals is likely to be made to the Soijlh Seas, and I any person with the smallest knowledge of the style of creatures they are, will very uaturally shudder at the thought of the liability we are placed under, of hariqg those undesirable criminals escaping to, or being placed' on our shores. Thfi much condemned, and consequently' abolished system of transportation to, pertain colonies of ihe $ritUb Eo»j»ife-*-j

Which prevailed in the earlj^axa—al-J though mild in its effectjlj,"companion, with the threatened FrejaoH action, provlof^ rcle«|j, •enougK'rtb^t ihjastic/ of foisting 4ifSpnj their SpulbM,]K»sessions the vilest* cleansings or'fi^jme countries. To pre-' Tent such a dire calamity as we wish to :point out overcoming us, it is necessary that we should take steps to, at least, as a people, protest against the action proposed by France, and fearlessly demand that England should remonstrate, and if necessary do more to prevent its occurrence. It is more than probable that at the coming Conference some steps in the direction of instituting an anti-convict league will be taken; in the meantime we would urge that the people should meet, proclaim their views on the subject, and "band themselves together to protest against the pollution of the colony by an influx of foreign criminals. It may be thought that it is as well to "wait until larger communities take action in the matter, but once the inaugurative is taken, such a movement will be quickly followed up in other places. Besides this, any public demonstration made against the execution of so abominable a proposal, will strengthen the hands of the representatives of the colony at the coming Conference.