FRENCH EXULTATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2225, 12 October 1886, Page 2

FRENCH EXULTATION.

Referring lo the New Hebrides question, the Republique Fianoaise in a loading article thus wiites : — It is only one company of marines that a modest cruiser ha« 1 wded out there. Tt is over a few poor huts that the tricolor id floating. But nevertheless we him; not learned of this landing without real pleasure. It is settled at last, or we hope so at any rat' 1 , this eternal question of the New Hebiides. That annexe of New Caledonia is at last ours, we may hope, in spite of the claws of England and her superannuated pretensions. If, diplomatically speaking, we are not yet the definite possessors of that group of islands— the New Hebrides— on which we have just planted our H.\^, they are at lca^t ours by the right of first occupation. Diplomacy will come next. Protocols will follow. Official Notes will be exchanged, but our little soldiers of the infantry and of the marine are already there, and they will not be diiven away by diplomatic Note-, or by protocols or by formulas. This time it is not messieuis les Anglais who have fired tirbt. We have got well ahead of them. It is time to show our neighbour that we also are a colonial Power, that we also have sonio lights on the seas, and that when iu>ed c ills wo can make them respected. We ha\e vessels and maiines for that purpose, and above all we have the will, which has too long boen lacking. It was formerly an article of faith that all which was not continent — everything which, according to the old geographical formula, was suirounded by water on all sides — belonged more or le-ss to England. There is a wellknown anecdote of that Ambassador of Great Britain to the Venetian Republic who was floating one day in a gondola on the lagoons. He dipped his hand into the wator, and then lifting it to his lips, " Ha, ha!" ho exclaitnpd, "it is salt. This is ours.' 1 The st u-y is very English, and the bride of it is English too. But the New Hebrides will be French."

Mr T. Bates, having disposed of hi* Hamilton business, lequests that nil accounts owing be paid during this month. The Paterangi Cheese Factoiy will commence work <<n the ISth inst. Milk supplieis are requested to " roll up." Mr John Kuox will hold his usual sale of produce, &c, at thu Hamilton Auction AJait on Saturday. A notice by the Te Awamntu poundkeoper appears in another column, Th" thoroughbied hoiso (Jildeioy is advertised to stand in the Waikato di^Lnct this boavm, advertisement.