commercial activity in the Pacific, was then made, and still is, the seat of government.

(b) The Low Archipelago, or Paumotu group, a vast collection of coral islands, numbering seventy-eight or more, covering an area of 6,000 square kilometres, and chiefly valuable for their pearl fisheries.

(c) The Gambiers, a group of four small islands. The French official resides at Mangareva. The agents of Messrs. Godeffroy some years ago shipped to Europe, in one parcel, pearls to the value of $20,000, the product of a few months' collection among the Paumotus, and the large pearl now in the possession of her Majesty, and purchased of Messrs. Storr and Mortimer for 6,000l., came from the Gambiers.

The situation in the Eastern Pacific calls for immediate action. The islanders are becoming aware of the growing power of Germany in these latitudes, and, as the greater part of their trade is transacted through agents of that country, there is some reason to expect that Prince Bismarck may before long carry out here his principle of following the German trade with the German flag.

With the diplomatic dealings that led to the establishment of Kaiser Wilhelm Land in the Ireland of Australia still fresh in our memory, it might be politic and not altogether unnecessary to take some preliminary steps in a matter of so great importance to the future welfare of British commercial interests.

I would suggest that the limits of British and French spheres of influence in the Eastern Pacific be more accurately defined, and that declarations be made between the Governments of Great Britain and France similar in effect to those entered into between this country and Germany concerning the Western Pacific. The Panama Canal may or may not be a financial success. That it will be open for navigation in 1889 is more than doubtful, but that it may be un fait accompli sooner or later is a possibility which even the Americans cannot gainsay. Our duty is to be prepared for a favourable result of M. Lesseps' undertaking, which, if successful, will not only open a new sea route to Australia and New Zealand, but also bring the Pacific islands into very much closer communication with European Powers than is at the present time possible.

It would of course be necessary to agree to a conventional line of demarcation, and the diplomatic dealings that led to the fixing of this line might materially assist in solving the New Hebrides problem.

Provided that the settlement of the Newfoundland fisheries dispute does not interfere with the carrying out of the declaration entered into betweeen this country and France, in 1847, respecting the independence of the islands of Huahine, Raiatea, and Borabora, and the small islands adjacent thereto, the withdrawal of Great Britain this engagement in exchange for Rapa, Tubai, and Ravaivai

might be deserving of some consideration at the hands of her Majesty's Government.

A conventional line, as indicated in the chart overleaf, that secured Rapa and Rarotonga on the British side, would not be without its advantages to this country, and yet keep intact the rights of France, and not interfere with her diplomatic or commercial policy in these latitudes.

Tahiti being the great centre of French trade in the Pacific is absolutely necessary to France; but Rapa, which can only be approached from most of the French possessions by a circuitous passage, owing to the nautical dangers that surround the Low Archipelago, has hitherto proved of little service to that nation. In support of my case I would mention the fact that, although this island was included in the 1843 protectorate, it was only in 1867, after the Panama Mail Company had chosen it for a coaling station, that France thought it necessary to send a man-of-war there to reduce it into possession. In the event of the Panama Canal being opened for traffic, Tahiti must, from its geographical position, always be the coaling station for French vessels taking that route to Caledonia or Australia. Rarotonga is independent, and its inhabitants have already invited, and are still ready and willing to accept, British protection, while Tubai and Ravaivai are unimportant islands to France in comparison with the possession of Huahine, Borabora, Raiatea, and the remaining islands of the Society group. The guano islands Fanning, Malden, and Starbuck would, under the suggested arrangement, also go to France.

WESTERN PACIFIC.

The largest and perhaps the most important island in the Western Pacific is New Guinea, or Papua. It lies immediately south of the equator and north of Australia, and is under the control of three European Powers in the following estimated proportions:

The secrecy and jealousy of the Dutch in relation to their East India possessions, even to a late period, has barred political and geographical information to the outer world. Lord Carnarvon in 1875 endeavoured to get some definite information as to their title, or alleged title, to the western portion of New Guinea, and to trace out the precise boundaries of the territory held by them. No specific information, however, on these points was forthcoming, beyond the fact that they claimed to extend to the 141st degree of longitude east of Greenwich.

The Dutch navigators in the early part of the seventeenth century explored the south-western shores of New Guinea as far east as the Torres Straits, while Le Maire, Schouten, and Abel Tasman (1613-43) traced the northern shores from about the 144° meridian to the westward. The Great Geel Vink Bay was explored in 1705. In 1820 and 1828 more explorations were made, and a settlement founded. In 1835 the Dutch sent out another expedition, which was followed in 1858 by a third to Humboldt Bay. None of these endeavours to colonise the place have, however, been very successful.

Hence the assumption is their title depends upon the right of discovery and exploration.

Comparatively little too is known concerning German New Guinea, and although recent White Books give some information about the interior of Kaiser Wilhelm Land, the greater part of that territory remains unexplored; but owing to the untiring energy of the late Sir Peter Scratchley, who personally visited eighteen districts, twentyseven islands, thirty-four inland and sixty coast villages, some definite and reliable information respecting the British territory has been acquired. With the exception of the north-east coast, the entire

littoral of the protectorate is inhabited, and in the west and northwest, from the Fly River to Hall Sound, the tribes are large. The soil there, too, is extremely fertile, and large crops of sago are produced. From Port Moresby to Kerupunu the natives are peaceable and inclined to the adoption of European ideas respecting labour; but at Aroma, Cloudy Bay, Milport Bay, and Toulon Island they are not to be trusted. Further south villages are smaller but more numerous, and the character of the natives is docile. Concerning those on the north-east coast, little is known of their habits or customs. The natives are far superior in physique to the Australian black, but there is no such developed tribal system as existed in Fiji, Java, and New Zealand. Sir Peter Scratchley and his guard only carried arms on rare occasions, but no hostility was ever shown, and even at Mr. Forbes's station, the furthest settlement inland hitherto attempted, a friendly spirit was exhibited.

The discovery of New Guinea is due to the Portuguese. Don Juge de Menenis landed there in 1526, and called the island Papua, which some authorities translate 'black,' while others construe it 'curled hair,' either of which meanings suits the native inhabitants. Thirty years later De Retz, a Spanish mariner, sailed along the northern coast, and rechristened the island Nueva Guinea, from a fancied resemblance it bore to the Guinea coast on the west of Africa. Dampier, in 1699, circumnavigated the island, and on landing met with considerable resistance from the natives. A similar experience befell Captain Cook when he visited the place in 1770.

Twenty-three years ago a company was started in Sydney to colonise that part not taken by Holland; but the idea was abandoned when the promoters of the scheme found they could not form a British colony without the express consent of the Imperial authorities. Since that date the coast-line of New Guinea has been to some extent explored by the missionaries and various Europeans who have visited its shores.

The Bismarck Archipelago consists of the Admiralty group, New Britain, New Ireland, Long, and Rooke islands, and several smaller dependencies round about.

The Louisiade Archipelago, included in the British protectorate, embraces the islands of Adele, Roussel, and St. Aignan, and the groups Rénard, De Boyne, Bonvouloir, D'Entrecasteaux, and Trobriande. Many of the islands are thickly populated, and the natives, mostly cannibals, are less to be trusted than those on the mainland.

I do not propose to deal with either the British or German occupation of New Guinea at any great length, but it may be interesting to give here a short account of the way Germany obtained a footing in the Ireland of Australia and a hold in the Western Pacific.

Like a triangle, the question has three sides-Imperial, German, Colonial. These I will discuss as briefly as possible, and leave my

readers to draw their own conclusions. The Imperial authorities, after much delay and a good deal of outside pressure from the colonies, decided not to annex New Guinea, but to declare a protectorate up to a certain point in the island, and on the 9th of September, 1884, her Majesty's Government announced to the German authorities that it was intended to establish a protectorate over the coast and contiguous islands, excepting that part between the 145th degree of east longitude and the eastern Dutch boundary. Baron von Plessen then made certain representations in London, the outcome of which was that another note was sent to Berlin on the 9th of October, stating that as an act of courtesy we would, pending negotiations with Prince Bismarck, limit the immediate declaration of the protectorate to the south coast and islands, it being understood, of course, that this was done without prejudice to any territorial question beyond that limit, and adding that, in the opinion of her Majesty's Government, any question as to districts lying beyond the limit actually taken should be dealt with diplomatically rather than be referred to a South Sea Committee, as suggested by Baron von Plessen. Germany, however, saw no reason for entering into the negotiations suggested by this country, or waiting for the diplomatic discussion of Baron von Plessen's representations, and proceeded to annex a portion of the territory in question.

This action on the part of a friendly Power naturally caused some amount of irritation at the Foreign Office, and did not tend to allay the anxiety which was rapidly springing up at the Colonial Office in consequence of the alarming nature of the telegrams received from Australia. Much correspondence ensued on all sides, and on the 24th of December an interview took place between Prince Bismarck and Mr. Meade in Berlin, when the matter was personally introduced to the German Chancellor. Six months later it was officially announced in London that an arrangement had been agreed upon between the two Governments. Under this a point was selected on the north-east coast where the eighth parallel of south latitude cuts the sea-shore as the coast boundary, and the inland territories were respectively fixed by a line starting from the coast in the neighbourhood of Mitre Rock, on the eighth parallel of south latitude, and following this parallel to the point where it is cut by the 147th degree of east longitude, then in a straight line in a north-westerly direction to the point where the sixth parallel of south latitude cuts the 144th degree of east longitude, and continuing in a north-westerly direction to the point of intersection of the fifth parallel of south latitude and of the 144th degree of east longitude.

The British possessions lie to the south and the German to the north of the line thus defined. So the matter was settled, and 68,000 square miles of territory passed under German control which