23

A.—3

plaint of the ill-treatment of Polynesians in Queensland. The honourable member must be aware that a Commission was appointed at their own instigation to examine into the charge/-!, and that the whole system had been changed. These natives had been returned to their own islands, and everything had been done by the Queensland Government within the past year or two to conduct the system on a proper footing. He was the more surprised at the honourable member bringing this question forward now, because he read a short time ago a book entitled " The British Empire," written by Sir George Campbell. (Laughter.) The writer of that book admitted that Queensland had turned over a new leaf, and that practically the colony was free from those charges. Of course he did not wish to put too much weight on the authority of that writer, but still he thought it right to quote his opinion. (Laughter.) The honourable member seemed to think that the Government had made no provision for the natives. He referred the honourable gentleman to page 210 of the second volume of the discussions at the Colonial Conference. He would see there that paragraphs 9, 10, and 11 most carefully protected the natives in regard to the buying of land by private persons, the prohibition of the deportation of natives except under ordinances reserved for Her Majesty's assent; and trading with natives in arms, intoxicants, &c, was absolutely prohibited except under ordinance reserved for Her Majesty's assent. In short, every protection was given to the natives, and he was convinced that this measure would be one of undoubted benefit to them. The honourable member seemed to think that the Government had pursued a different policy from that of their predecessors. In 1881 Lord Derby was in favour of a protectorate. His immediate predecessor, the present Secretary of State for War, was of the same opinion, as was shown by his telegram of the 14th August, 1885, in which he said Her Majesty's Government were willing to proclaim a sovereignty. There was no material variation between the proposal approved by his predecessor and the present arrangement. He did not know that there was anything more to answer, because the whole point of the honourable member's speech was that we were handing it over to Queensland. He could not then enter upon a discussion of the Settlements Bill, although he must say that the honourable member's statement of it was profoundly incorrect. He said now, as he had said before, that New Guinea did not come under the head of conquest or cession, and that it was a settlement long inhabited by some British settlers. It was a British settlement, and subject to the Act of 31 and 32 Viet., cap. 151. With regard to the point as to registration of land-purchasers in the Western Pacific Islands, that subject was also brought before the Colonial Conference. All other countries were allowing registration of purchases of land by their people — Germans, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese — and why we alone of all countries should, not allow our subjects to settle in these islands did seem to him unaccountable. That change had been made, and he had to assure the honourable member that if it had been done long ago we should have been saved a great deal of trouble in Samoa and other places. (Hear, hear.) Mr. W. A. MoAethde said with respect to the registration of claims to land in the Western Pacific that the want of it had for years stood in the way of the settlement of those islands. He thought it one of the greatest boons that had been conferred upon Australia. (Hear, hear.) Last year he was all through the northern part of Queensland, and saw a good deal of the black labour there, and he never saw a more cheerful or amicable set of men. They were far more independent of their masters, and were a great deal better looked after by the inspectors of labour in the colony, than any English labourer that he knew of. The only regret he felt with regard to our possessions in New Guinea was that they did not extend all over the island. He believed the extension of our authority was good for the natives, for Australia, and for the British Empire, and he sincerely hoped that, so far from the Colonial Office being discouraged in the policy they were pursuing, they would do their best to extend it as far as possible. (Cheers.)

[Extract from the Times, Friday, 9th September, 1887."] Samoa. In answer to Mr. A. McArthur, Sir J. Feegusson said, —Intelligence has been received through the Governor of New Zealand that, in consequence of complaints against the so-called King Malietoa by German subjects, the (lerman Consul, with the support of a man-of-war, had deposed Malietoa, and proclaimed Tamaseso King of Samoa. The British, and United States Consuls had protested.

[Extract from the Times, Saturday, 10th September, 1887.] The Events in Samoa. Sir J. Fergusson.—l beg leave to refer to an answer which I gave yesterday to a question put to me at short notice with reference to the recent events in Samoa. I mentioned Malietoa as the so-called King, having in my mind the difference of such a title as applied to the chief of that group ; but, as my attention has been called to it, I desire to say that undoubtedly Malietoa has been recognised by Her Majesty's Government as the King of Samoa, and treaties have been made with him in that capacity.

[Extract from the Times, Monday, 12th September, 1887.] Geemaky and Samoa. Berlin, 11th September. Referring to the alleged landing of a German force in Samoa and its high-handed doings there, a communique in the North German Gazette states that no official intelligence on the subject has yet been received at Berlin, and continues, — "It is true the squadron had orders to demand satisfaction not only for robbery committed on German plantations, but also for an insult offered to the Emperor, and for the cruel treatment of those of his subjects who had celebrated His Majesty's birthday on the 22nd March. Malietoa