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was annexed, they arc more advanced than the islanders of the Solomons, New Britain, and New Guinea. Speaking of Fiji reminds us that it may bo regarded as the outlying extremity of the chain of islands abovenamed, being only 400 miles from the New Hebrides, which again are only 1,00.) miles from New Guinea. It is most undesirable that a foreign Power should possess the New Hebrides and Solomons, lying between Fiji and New Guinea, and forming the very heart of our nascent South Sea Empire, for it would be a standing menace to it as well as to the Australasian Colonies. As to the protection of the natives from labour traffic atrocities, and conserving the honor of the British name, the necessity of doing which we have abundantly recognized by Acts of the Imperial Parliament and otherwise, it is in the New Hebrides and Solomons that that protection is most needed; there the flag of England has been most foully stained, and there has been done to the helpless people most grievous wrong, for which wo are nationally responsible ; we owe therefore to them a national debt of reparation, which we do not owe to the people of New Guinea. And the perpetration of that wrong is going on every day in these islands, whereas it, is only begun in New Guinea. There is no other way worth trying of putting an end to these outrages and massacres that we are constantly hearing of, and many which we_never hear of, but by annexing the islands, and thereby making the islanders British subjects. Lord Derby and the Home authorities recognize the need of new efforts to put a stop to them or better regulate the labour traffic. —[See his reply to a deputation in February last. ] Nothing short of annexation and putting the Papuan islander, as a labourer, on a footing analogous to that of the Hindoo coolie, will avail. This, in fact, is a strong argument for annexation. The expenses now incurred —and they are considerable —for inefficient regulations would be applied efficiently under the new system ; the honor, the interests, and the safety of the Empire would be promoted, the natives protected, and commerce and civilization permanently rooted and grounded in one of the fairest and most fertile portions of the globe. There are four Missionary Societies at work in Papuan Polynesia, and only four, and the whole four are British; the Presbyterian in the New Hebrides, Church of England in the Solomons, Wesleyan in New Britain, and London Missionary Society in New Guinea. Of these missions, the Presbyterian in the New Hebrides is the oldest and largest; it has now fourteen European missionaries, together with about 150 native Christian teachers and evangelists, who may be regarded as the hope of their race, both as to Christianity and" civilization, and it is carried on at an annual expense of about £0,000 of British, Home, and Colonial money. Similar things might be said of the other missions. Already a considerable number of traders and planters have settled in the New Hebrides, and most or nearly all of these are British subjects. All would hail annexation as a boon. The natives to a man are as much in favour of British as they are opposed t> French annexation. There, is not commercially a richer or more fertile or desirable group than the New Hebrides throughout (he vast extent of the Pacific. The Imperial Government can have no objection, on principle, to annexing these islands, sinc3 they have annexed New Guinea and Fiji; and there can be no reasonable objection on the score of expense, asthe same machinery that is necessary for New Guinea and Fiji can be extended over the intervening islands, and the present expense of the abortive regulation of the so-called "labour traffic" will be available, and probably sufficient to cover any slight additional expense. And as soon as civilized Government is extended over these islands in connection with either of the established Governments of Fiji or New Guinea, as may be most convenient, the rapid commercial development and progress certain to take place in them will speedily secure more than the defrayment of their proportion of the expense of Government; for these islands will become the Australasian Indies, and will yield cotton, coffee, and cocoa-nut oil, sugar and spices, and all other tropical products, in large quantities. Thus, generally speaking, it is exceedingly desirable to annex these islands along with New Guinea and Fiji. Hitherto the British Government have not seen their way to annex the New Hebrides, though frequently petitioned to do so ; but now that Fiji at the one extremity, and New Guinea at the other, have been annexed, it is reasonable to expect that they would see it to be their wisdom to annex the intervening islands also, attaching them to either of the existing Colonies of Fiji or New Guinea, according to their proximity; and these islands not only lie between the two extremities of our South Sea Empire, but also form a chain that runs parallel to the Australian coast. I therefore respectfully and earnestly suggest to you, as Premier of the Colony of Victoria, that;, if you agree with these views, you take such steps as your long political experience may dictate to you to secure the co-operation of the other Australian Governments, in order to the annexation to the British Kmpire of the New Hebrides, Solomons, and New Britain, along with New Guinea and the Fijis; and I have much satisfaction in feeling that to none could so important a business be more appropriately committed. May I request that you will be good enough to appoint a time to receive myself and a number of gentlemen who are deeply interested in the matter, at your earliest convenience, to more fully explain their views on the subject. I have, &c, D\ MACDONALD, _. Missionary, New Hebrides,

[Sd-sncksure JY,>. 2.] Extract fr.ni the Argus Newspaper of 7th June, 1883. The Sonn Sea Islands. A largo deputation, including a number of clergymen, waited on the Premier yesterday, to urge him to do everything in his power to induce the Imperial Government to annex or accord its protection to the islands in the South Seas that are not at present under the dominion of any other Power. Mr. Balfour, M.L.G., ml reduced (lie deputation, which was abo accompanied by Messrs. Anderson, Miriams, Gibb, and M. 11. Davios, M.L.A.'s. The Minister of Justice was present with the Premier. Mr. Balfour said that for many years those connected witli the missions in the New Hebrides Islands had seen the necessity for the annexation of those islands, or else for their being brought under the protection of the Empire. The iniquitous labour traffic was really not under control, and it had had tlw effect of almost bringing Christianity and civilization to a standstill. Movements in favour of annexation or protection had been repeated, lut unsuccessful. He assumed that Great Britain would cither annex New G-uinea or allow the Colonies to do so ; and the present seemed a good opportunity to urge the annexation of the other islands, which could be advocated not only from a missionary's but from a statesman's point of view, for on these islands valuable products could be grown. Common humanity demanded the supression of the labour traffic, about which there were numerous official reports, and which had lately been commented upon by Mr. Morrison, an independent witness. The Wesleyan mission at New Britain repre mted in the deputation. The missionaries there did not want annexation until the natives had been consulted ; but the New Hebrides missionaries could speak confidently as to the desire for annexation of the natives there. Throughout these islands there was a great dread of other powers, but a great desire to be annexed to the British Empire. The Rev. 1). Macdonald, Presbyterian missionary of New Hebrides, said that the British had the most right to annex the islands, because they had spent more money there than any other nation. Moreover, precious British blood had been spilled there, and the British were more numerously represented than any other foreign nation. The annexation of the islands would be a reparation for the wrong done to them by the labour traffic by persons of British nationality more than any other. There was no other means than annexation of stopping the constantly occurring massacres. The New Hebrides were centrally situated, and were near to the Australian Colonies, and contained splendid harbours, the best of which was in central island, called Sandwich Island. The Rev. ,T. King, of the Victorian Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society, said that he had spent ten years on the Navigators Islands. The missionaries did not advocate annexation, becanse they desired governmental patronage and help. They did not want British gun-boats to assist them in evangelizing the people. The greatest achievements of Christianity had been accomplished in the islands without [such aid. He advocated annexation purely on huinanitai'ian grounds. The British Government was the natural protector of these races. The long connection of British people with the islanders in missionary work and commercial enterprise had led the islanders to look up to the British as their natural protectors. Samoa, over and over again, asked the British S-ovesnmeut for a protectorate, but such requests had been deoliped, and now Germauv and America had obtained very strong footing there. Unless the British Government soon sleppetlin, the New Hebrides also would soon arrive at~a stage at; which British annexation would be impossible. The French had a considerable interest in the Loyalty group beyond New Caledonia. In the past the English Government had signally failed in conserving native races, because it had not yet adopted the right policy. 331—1 The