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9. Many circumstances thus combine to raise here a nautical population, and to secure a large mercantile fleet fitted in every respect to carry on our commerce. It is worthy of remark that this state of things has long existed in New Zealand, showing that it springs from the natural resources and conformation of the country, which combine to develop human energy in the directions indicated ; for, long before we occupied these islands, the aboriginal inhabitants were a race of seamen possessing large and admirably-constructed canoes, in which they navigated every portion of the coasts of these islands, and trained up their youth to be experienced sailors, so much so that, in many vessels trading in this part of the world, their services proved of the utmost value. They became most skilful whalers ; and they are, I believe, unsurpassed as seamen by any other race of men. 10. Any attempt to confine the Anglo-Saxon race within the limits of the New Zealand Islands must prove a failure. It might as well be attempted to confine the birds of the ocean within the same limits. The disposition, natural instincts, and wants of that race will compel them to navigate the Pacific in every direction, and to cultivate relations of commerce with the inhabitants of the Pacific Islands, which relations will be more or less profitable, and more or less satisfactory as regards their humanity and all other respects, in exactly the degree in which life and property are allowed by good regulations to be made secure in the islands to which they trade, and in which their partners or agents must reside. 11. The same remark applies with greater cogency to the aborigines of Now Zealand. They already, in some instances, visit Rarotonga, delighting to traverse, in small vessels which are their own property, the calm waters which lie to the north of New Zealand. This pursuit opens to them a field for their energies and love of adventure—a field of a most useful nature j and to attempt to shut those energies and this love of adventure within the limits of the native districts in these islands will be to insure future disturbances between the two populations. I believe that the best way to avoid this is to afford to the Natives full scope for the exercise of that love of action which is inherent in their youth, and which must find an outlet in some direction. In the Pacific Islands, advantageous openings could be found for the employment of many Natives of Now Zealand, amongst races who speak languages nearly identical with their own. 12. These circumstances all point to the necessity of establishing a central government in each group of islands. But, in speaking of the establishment of such systems of government, it should be remembered that another important question is touched upon, for the islands are nearly all now greatly under-populated. 18. Mr. Des Vceux, in a message to the Legislative Council of Fiji, on the 29th January last, gives an estimate of the area of the Fiji Islands. In doing this he shows that one of those islands alone is as large as Jamaica, and much larger than Cyprus ; that another of them would contain Mauritius three times, and Barbadoes ten times ; and that the aggregate area of all the Fiji Islands is greater than that of all the British "West India Islands (Jamaica, Trinidad, and the Windward and Leeward Islands). In short, he shows that the Fijis, with their soil and climate, have an area which would enable them to sustain a suitable population of from I,(JdO 000 to 1,500,000 souls. 14. Yet the Fiji Islands have at present a population of little more than 100,000 Natives, and a small European population. The same state of things prevail in other groups of islands in the Pacific, varying in proportion to their respective areas. 15. Now, if it is worth the while of Great Britain to go to a great expense to render life and property secure in Cyprus, and to establish good government there, surely it is much more worth the while of Australia and New Zealand to take care that life and property are secure in the most fertile of the island* in the Pacific—where there are many Cypruses—and that good governments are established in them. Indeed, their future safety from war, and troublesome disputes with other Powers, depends upon this being done ; for the population of those islands will be displaced in various ways, and the gaps thus left will be filled by miscellaneous populations being poured into them, composed of elements difficult of assimilation, not readily susceptible of control, and whose entry into the islands should be carefully watched and provided for. This heterogeneous population will most probably be eomposedof some of the aborigines of each island, of inhabitants of other islands, of Malays, Chinese, runaway sailors of various nationalities, escaped convicts from the French penal settlements; and it is almost certain that the various persons making up the mass of those populations will contain amongst their number some of the most indifferent characters of the classes which they represent. Thus those islands will either be sources of wealth and commerce, and the abodes of contentment and good order, or sources of wild disorder, and the cause of long-continued and desolating strife. 16. Should Great Britain, however, determine to refrain from occupying the Pacific Islands, and to prevent its own subjects also from occupying those islands, whilst foreign Powers are to be permitted to take possession of them, then I think such a line of policy will be in effect, to say to the inhabitants of New Zealand—" We think it necessary to take care that the fron- " tiers of the Indian Empire are not too nearly approached by any foreign Power, and to attain "this object, and other ends in which you have no direct interest, we may often become involved "in war. Whenever this happens, it will be your duty, as good subjects, cheerfully to make "great sacrifices, by being prepared to bear the expense of fortifying your harbours and " protecting your outlying settlements, to provide against descents being made upon you by " the enemies with whom we are at war, and to prevent your commerce from being interrupted, " nay, possibly, paralyzed. We now think it right further to intimate to you that it is our inten-