The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2793, 7 June 1890, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1890.

Equal and exact justice to all men, 0? whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

* Yeby clearly the position in Newfoundland is one of great delicacy. Fifteen hundred soldiers have been sent from Halifax, and four British war-ships have besn ordered to the scene. French ships are &.lso there driving away British subjects from what is undoubtedly British territory. The people of the colony are, bursting with indignation. The air aeems full of combustible matter, but those acquainted with the past history of this—the oldest English colony—must be loth to believe that the crisis will not pass without peace between England and France, which means the peace of the world, being disturbed. Nearly four hundred yeai'3 have gone by since Sebastian Cabot discovered for England this ancient colony. Columbus had only five years before discovered the Bahamas. The American continent was still unknown. No definite colonisation was attempted on the shores of Newfoundland ; its magnificent harbours and splendid fishing grounds were soon resorted to by Portuguese and Spaniards, the two great maritime Powers of that period. French fishermen also resorted to the. island, so that many nations were represented on its wild, unpeopled shores. In 1517, only 20 years after its discovery, Newfoundland was the centre of a fishing trade in which 40 vessels were regularly engaged. The fishermen increased and quarrels became frequent. France acquired Canada and the main-land, but in 1624 Lord Baltimore, with a body of Irish settlers proceeded to Avalon, the southern peninsula of Newfoundland, in which the finest harbours are found, and which, with the South Coast, is the scene of to-day's dispute. He remained some years but was so harassed by the French from the neighbouring land that he abandoned the settlement and established what has sirce become the State of Maryland. Ten years later settlers were again sent from Ireland, with a few from England. The fisheries grew and were the life of the colony, but the interests of the fishermen and their merchants were in a direct opposition to those of the settlers. The former prevailed, for the Government preferred to foster the fishing industry as the best nursery of seamen for the navy. The order in council was therefore issued forbidding plantations on the island. The fishermen were left masters of the field, and to preserve order among them a very curious plan was adopted. The firsc captain of a fishing vessel who arrived at any port during the season, was authorised by Act of the Imperial Parliament, to declare himself the admiral of the fleet in that port, and for that season his powers were very great, and. all British subjects were ordered to obey him. Thus sprung up the fishery admirals, who determinedly resisted the establishment of a regular Government, and struggled with it for half a century after it was at last established in 1728. In that year the first Royal Governor was appointed, but the first Supreme Court was not created till 1750, up to which time criminal offenders could only be sont to England for trial. Numerous fights at sea and on shore between Frenchmen and Englishmen, marked the intervening period. Fleets of both nations assembled and took and retook the various settlements. In the end France held nearly all (he Island. Her object was to acquire control of the straight of Belle Isle which commanded access to her Canadian colonies. The Treaty of Eydwick left the Trench the possession of Placentia and other places on the south coast of Avalon; but in 1700 they were driven away once more, from all but their stronghold at Placentia. Again in 1708 they captured St. Johns but the Treaty of Utrecht restored it to England. The same Treaty, however, secured to French fishermen the right of fishing along the greater part of the coast, together with the use of the shore for drying their fish, and landing their nets, other work incidental to the fishery. The English fishermen held sway on shore, and loudly proclaimed the barrenness of the country. Settlement was then discouraged, and so many difficulties were placed in its way that when Canada was taken by Wolfe in 1759 the whole population of Newfoundland scarcely numbered 10,000. In 1763 name the Treaty of Paris, confirming the rights of fishing held by the French and giving them the Islands of St. Peire and Miquelon lying off one of the largest and finest hai hours, as a shelter for their ships and men. Is it astonishing that rights so vague, enmities so old, and interests so conflicting, should lead to strife ? In those days cod was almost the only fish sought. Now wo have valuable lobster fisheries and canning establishments which require land for their operation. The right to establish these, independently of the local government, is claimed by tlio French as incident to the lobstor fishery, which they claim the sanio right to exorcise as that of the codfish. Four years ago the Newfoundland Government prohibited their people from selling bait to French fishermen, who retaliated by landing and catching it for themselves. The disputes have waxed warmer as a natural result, and are made more important through the development which the fisheries have attained. Steamers costing £15,000 to £20,000 are often employed in them, and the English export of cod from Newfoundland, together

with oil and sealskins, exceeds one million pounds sterling per annum. Meanwhile the old stories about the barrenness of the country have been disproved. Minerals have been discovered, and valuable copper mines are worked. Settlement has flourished, and the population is now about 200,000. The claims of the French, along what has always been know as the French Shore, still impede settlement on some of the finest agricultural land, and in some of the most magnificent harbours of the colony. The existence of a very profound irritation, under all these circumstances, is very easily understood. The refusal of bait to the French fishermen increased that irrifation. They work nfc a great disadvantage, being far from their supplies while the English fishermen are at home. The presence of French warships for their protection is therefore necessary, and the Newfoundland people are apparently irate beyond reason and control. They demand that England shall deal with a high hand with their ancient rivals, and that she shall interpret the Treaties in the Newfoundland sense alone. To do so would be neither wise nor just, and we have no apprehension of England being talked or forced into so wild a policy. A widespread war could be the only result.