M'IVER'S MEW GUINEA PROJECT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1794, 5 January 1884, Page 3

M' IVER'S MEW GUINEA PROJECT.

General M'lvek's efforts to equip an expedition for tho exploration and colonisation of New Guinea, writes the Aigus coi respondent on November 2nd, have received a severe check. He became involved in a newspaper correspondence with the Agent-Geneial for Queensland, and this attracted the attention of the Colonial Oificc to the expedition. Lord Dei by promptly took steps to acquaint the promoters that their contemplated operations in New Guinea w ould not be permitted. His views weic expiessed in a lettei which, it is somewhat significant to notice, was addressed to " Mr H. R. M'lver," the mihtaiy wink of the Servian Geneial being ignoied by the Colonial Oihce. Geneial M'lver piotests that his aims are of a puiely peaceful and ti.idmg chawictei. It is his intention to tieat the natives in a fair and equitable manner, his aim being simply "to pui chase a big twict of land, and then to build towns and open up f.uim." He has asked Loid Ueiby for an interview, as he det,n< s to i amove the nusappiehctibion which ni'.bt, lie thinks, have caused lum to v\ utc in the stiain ho did. If, liomovci, Loid Deiby peisists in his opposition, and takes any steps to prevent tlie dep.uture of the expedition, Geneial M'lver asserts puvately _ that liewill seek the \ lotcctiou ot a toicign (lag. He piofebses to l)ebeve that the dilhculties he is cncountcunsi will "consolidate" his pioneei puty. It is stated th it a v ussel ot 2500 tons has been clmteied and pio\ isioned to convey the pioneeis -about 150 stiong— to their destination A <neat niystciy is still maintained in ieg.iul to tlie point wheie the expedition will found the "city" which Genual Melvcr confidently predicts will soon become the capital of New Guinea. I have, howovei, good leason to behev c an attempt will be made to settle at I'oit Constantino, on the noith-cast coast. Tint, is the spot where liaion Maeleay, the Russian natuwilist, has been lesiding tor some time. He is on teunsof intimite fiiendslnp with the native chiefs, by whom he is implicitly ti listed. It is repoitcil that the Colonial Oilice have just received a teleL'iam fiom him, in which it is stated that the natives have requested him to solicit for them • the protection of theßntish Government. I Pott Constan tine has been very seldom vi&ited by white men, but Mr Romilly, the deputy coinnus-ioner at New Guinea, who recently went there and had some conveisation with the natives, has repoitcd to the Tin pel ial Government that they aie decidely opposed to selling thenlands, and would certainly resent their sei/jue. Mr Romilly states that there is abundance of excellent land in the vicinity of the spot well adapted tor sugar glowing, lie thinks it is a spot w hie'i could bo colonised by a wealthy oigamsatiou. Ik the light ot this lepoit the piomi--e contained in tlie piospoctus of the expedition that " each subsciilier of ClOO, who joins this oxjX'dition, will receive a land wan ant entitling him to 1000 aci cs of the iii >t lands to be acquit ed by tlm pioneeis" is not veiy ie assuiing. It is somewhat vaguely stated, "when nmttcisaie finally concluded nnd concessions obtained, a company will bofoimed, with a capital of seveial millions," and then " the pioneeis should get an immediate handsome lctiun for then capital" These indefinite pi onuses have seivcd to enlist the sj mpathy and suppoit of seveial hundied adventitious young men, fiom whom the promoters intend to bt-luct l.") 0 " pioueeis." They will all be noil aimed, as Gencial M'lvcv icmaiks they will be siiling in wateis hcquented by piuites. At iiist the piomoteis state 1 that, although they did not mean to do anything w Inch would "savour of filibu'stiMing," still they did not intend to impious the natives by "peifonning dn me service " for their benefit. Subsequently, however, it \v.is> cousideied judicious to write to the society for the Piopayation of the Gospel, ofFeiing to take out some nnssionaiies, who would be hutted and piovuledfor. Home chagim was exploded when it was discoveied that it was the London MibMonaiy Society winch had agents 1 in New Guinea. Aecoiding to piuscnt intention!?, the expedition will tiy and sail before the clo^c of Novcmbei. Suoli of the papeis as havo commented upon Loid Dei by's action ate by no means united m the v iews they e.xpiess. The Spectator inteipiets his warning to moan, "In plain English, that any ships landing an expedition will be sunk at hist sight," and in view of the probable decision of the Austialiau Confeience, it thinks this a peifectly justifiable policy. The Pall Mall (ia/etteobs-civc^— " Loid Dei by piobably little thought w hen dictating his crushing leply to Geneial M'lvei's application that he was committing this country to the annexation of New Guinea; but such will probably piove to be the fact." The St. James' Gazette wutos :— "lf it becomes necessaiy to think about moving Her Majesty's forces 'for the piotection of: the natives ' of New Guinea whenever a body of Englishmen think of settbug or trading there, it might be as convenient, and not much more costly in the end, to let the Austialians have then way about the country." The Times thinks that the M'lver episode, " unimpoitant as it is, has lately served to keep the New Guinea question befoie the public mind, and in that way it has done seivice."