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1219 





was appointed Special Commissioner, and arrived in New Guinea on the 28th of 

 August, 1885. He died of fever on board the steamer Governor JUackall on the 2nd 

 of December, 1885. Early in the following year, the Hon. John Douglas, C.M.G., 

 Government Resident at Thursday Island, was appointed Special Commissioner for the 



Protected Territory. During this time it had 

 become evident that a Protectorate which as- 

 sumed no authority over the natives was 

 unsatisfactory, and quite insufficient for pur- 

 poses of Government. The Australian Govern- 

 ments of New South Wales, Victoria and 

 Queensland having guaranteed the sum of 

 fifteen thousand pounds per annum for the 

 expenses of Government in New Guinea for 

 a period of ten years, the Imperial Government 

 assumed the sovereignty over 

 British New Guinea. On 

 the 4th of September, 1888, 

 the sovereignty was pro- 

 claimed by Sir William Mac 

 Gr.egor, M. D., K.C. M.G., 

 who had been appointed Ad- 

 ministrator of the new Pos- 

 session. Captain Day H. 

 Bosanquet, R. N., H.M.S. 

 Opal, administered the oaths 

 of office, the Royal Standard 

 was hoisted and saluted by 

 the guns of the Opal, and 

 British New Guinea became 

 a British possession. The 

 Government of the Posses- 

 sion is vested in the hands 

 of the Administrator, assisted 



by a Legislative Council, to consist of not less than two, 

 or more than five, Members appointed by the Crown. 

 The Administrator has to correspond with the Governor 

 of Queensland, and to receive instructions from him " for 

 guidance in the discharge of his office." All minutes 



of the Executive Council- have to be sent to the Governor of Queensland twice a 

 year, for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 



The seat of Government is at Port Moresby, where there is a small Government 

 House. The Chief Judicial Officer, Government Secretary, Collector of Customs, Post 

 and Port Master have offices at Port Moresby. There is a Resilient Magistrate at 

 Samarai, near China Straits, and also at Mabu Dauan, near the Fly River. A Native 



A NEW GUINEA TREE-HOUSE. 



