A.—3b

6

" That.other nations would not despise the colonization of New Guinea if they were not too .powerfully, engaged elsewhere, is well known. Captain Moresby even affirms, in the appendix to his book about the island, that it is for the English nation a 'duty' to annex and colonize New Guinea,-- Perhaps we might, with quite the same right, affirm it is the duty of the German nation to'take, in hand the colonization of. New Guinea. The claims to possession of the Dutch on the -west half of the island inspire us with no very great consideration, and we deem it therefore quite superfluous to enter further into them in this place."

,Jj.xt»Ac.t .from the Beport of Captain Pennefatheb, of the Queensland Government Schooner -' '~;.;,.■;:.,.■.' .'.[, "Pearl." . Mabch 6th, 1880. Made sail across the Gulf of Papua to Yule Island, arriving there at 11 a.m. on the Bth. The chart not showing the passage between the island and the mainland, anchored outside, intending to sound with the boats for a channel reported to me to exist between the south-east end of Yule and the mainland. • Brought the vessel through a fine channel carrying fifteen fathoms by the lead ; anchored in the bay within two hundred yards of Yule in ten fathoms. •■;■;. I.iound this to be a magnificent harbour, capable of affording shelter and anchorage in any winds. •. ■• •■, • • The scenery here is very grand, Mount Yule 10,000 ft. high, and the Owen Stanley Ranges- appearing to tower over us,' while the island had a beautiful green appearance, being apparently highly cultivated. • • • • The people here do not live in villages, but in families, half a mile or so apart, with neatly-fenced plantations surrounding the clean comfortable houses which are so well suited to the climate. The soil (black) is very rich, and capable of growing, any tropical productions. I should say the island is healthy, judging from the appearance of the people, and its height; there being no low country, but undulating hills, all apparently capable of cultivation. Sugar appears to-thrive here. ■ This harbour and the Island of Yule would form a splendid basis of operations should New Guinea, be colonized, the harbour offering every facility for shipping in the immediate vicinity of the richest and most accessible part of the island.

»,«« : ■-■.;■ No. 4. The Baron Db Miklouho Maclay and the Eev. J. Chalmebs to the Colonial Office. My Loud,^- Cooktown, Queensland, June 1, 1883. From our long connection with different parts of New Guinea and the knowledge we possess of the natives, their language, customs, and country, we beg to lay the following before your Lordship:— ,j 1. "We.'know that there is no land unclaimed; that wherever we have been every inch of soil pear the villages is claimed by natives, who reside in villages and largely cultivate. We trust, therefore, that the rights of natives to their soil, as well as their right to various reefs on the coast, which have belonged to them from all past times down to the present, will be fully respected and that they may not be alienated from them. .2. Jhe natives of New Guinea are very much attached to their homes and dislike much to be long a,way from thorn, we therefore think that if the system of recruiting "labour" by other countries, should be introduced (an attempt of it Las already been undertaken from Mackay, ■Queensland, in sending for this purpose the brigantine " Fanny," which has left for New Guinea in March of .this year), it will be the cause of much misunderstandings, trouble, and bloodshed. No native, we are.perfectly sure, will willingly leave his home for the long period desired by planters and.otherstowork for them, therefore the danger is that a "respectable" system of kidnapping i may be tried. We therefore beg your Lordship may prohibit the traffic entirely, in so far as regards New Guinea. ■ , -~3, From,the well-known and long-ascertained fact of the bad effects of spirits on the islands pf the Pacific,. demoralizing and decimating the native races, we hops measures will-be taken to ■prevent their.introduction into New Guinea. Being of opinion that a great number of injustices and wrongs could be prevented by a few measures taken in time, and knowing the natives of New Guinea cannot at present help themselves : in claiming: their own rights, we therefore thus appeal on their behalf to your Lordship, and hope pur. application will not be without effect. We have, &c. j.ia. ■ ', ,'■...■! Jambs Chalmebs, ■.-.,. . . ;. London Missionary Society, New Guinea. ■~■■■■• N. De Miklouho Maclay, The Eight Hon. Lord Derby. Of the Maclay Coast, at New Guinea.

:.... : . , Enclosure. •';.; , ■ ■■ [Prom the Adelaide Observer of April 14tli.] ',: * The M'ackay sugar-planters are looking to New Guinea as a field for labour. The Mackay Mercury '■". states '■' tliat the brigantine 'Fanny,' Captain Wawii, left the river on 19th March, and after anchoring for the night at Sound Top, finally sailed on Tuesday morning at 6 o'clock. Her destina- ... .tionis New Guinea, where her enterprising owners, Messrs. E. S. Rawson and Co., are hopeful of obtaining a plentiful supply of labour. The question of labour is becoming such a really serious " one, : .tha,t it is "with much pleasure we record this prospect of opening up new fields, and we hope to be in a position to announce the return, at an early date, of the 'Fanny,' with a full complement of recruits."