Australian Items.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 739, 13 March 1877, Page 6 (Supplement)

Australian Items.

SAMOA AND DOMINION IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

The Melbourne correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald" says : — • The question of dominion m the South Seas ought to be absorbing to all of us. It touches Australia vitally. Is Germany ,to have Samoa ? Such is the programme as it is shaping now, as any well informed person will say. Tonga is all very well m its way, but Samoa is, or Avill be, the richest group of tlic Pacific. Ask travellers who have been round m that quarter. Sir Julius Yogel, with the eye of a statesman perceived the nascence of the Pacific empire, and endeavoured to start the New Zealand and South Sea Trading Company, under Government patronage, to work towards a protectorate over the islands. The scheme fell through. Bismark knows where the wealth of these new Indies is concentrating. Some of the plantations employ their 2000 or 3000 hands, Kanakas, islanders generally, Chinese, and no small admixture of white people. If we looked at matters from 'a cosmopolitan rather than a- national, point of view, perhaps Germany ought to have Samoa, as she has done' the most for it. Howover, this is not the view Bismark ijakes, m coveting Denmark and Holland. The Melbourne correspondent of the "Town and Country Journal " writes on the same subject as follows:' — Outside domestic politics, the German agression iri the South Seas is talked of m our educated circles. It is thought 'that; if England should be involved m with Russia, Germany will certainly seize Samoa. That island is watched jealously by the cruisers of three nations : England, Germany, and America. Tlie Samoaus petitioned Congress about two year's ago for the protection of America to be accorded them, but Congress decided not to take any steps which would savor of foreign annexation. Nevertheless there is a strong party m the United States which desires the annexation both of Cuba and Samoa, particularly the latter to establish a precedent. General Grant ; is personally favourable to this. Steinberg'er is his friend, and a friend to whom he is under obligations, for pecuniary assistance rendered while Grant, before the Avar, Avas a poor adventurer, if such a word be rightly applied to a conscientious man. ' Grant Avas the moving poAver m Steinberger's expedition to Samoa, where the U.S. frigate Tuscarbra gave him valuable moral assistance, by accidentally visiting the main island at the same time with him. Secretary Fish declared, after the Barracouta emente, that America disowned Steinberger, but a San Francisco paper, m giving it hotly to Fish, maintained that he acted m direct contradiction to the wish of the American people. Why Avas Mr Forster, the Samoan U.S. Consul, removed? So that everybody may be satisfied as nearly as possible, a U.S. -man-of-war is kept Avithin grip of Samoa. Wo know that Commodore Hoskiris lias a British Avar steamer m that direction. Germany keeps the Hertha proAvling round. The Elizabeth, the finest corvette m tire Avhole German navy is coming out, and she Avill balance the Wolverine. Samoa is destined to become the scene of lively operations. It cauuot possibly retain its independence. German interests are the mos.t powerful there, through the immense 'plantations of the, Godefvoys, who keep a mercantile fleet of their own. REV. G. BROWN. At the meeting of the Wesleyan Conference at Sydney, a resolution Avas passed expressing a high sense of the value of Mr Brown's labours, and of the heroic selfdenying conduct of both Mr and Mrs BroAvn. The General Secretary of the Conference announced that Mr Reid, of Lauuceston, had given £400 to purchase a new steam launch, £200 to educate the children of Mr BroAvn m New Zealand, and £200 to support a European missionary m the island. The Conference also passed a resolution that no means should be neglected of securing the services of a secpnef missionary, to accompany Mr Brown.. The Conference also passed a cordial vote of hearty thanks to Mr Reid for his donations, and recorded its thankfulness to Amighty God for raising up friends, Avho support by their Avealth important Christian enterprises.