INSULAR A US TR. 1 /.. 1\7. 1. 



1251 





of purchasing land, promoting settlement and trade in the Islands, and for securing 

 British commercial interests. An agent of the Company is resident on the Group. A 

 saw-mill company has for some time been established on Aneityum, and has been doing 

 a considerable amount of business. There are large forests of timber, especially on the 

 northern islands. The planters, both French and British, have found difficulty in hiring 



labourers. While many Islanders have gone to 

 Queensland, few are willing to be hired in their own 

 places. The French settlers have introduced natives 

 from the Solomon Islands and other groups, but 

 regulations are wanting regarding such arrangements 



on the part of British 

 subjects. 



Life is now com- 

 paratively safe on these 

 Islands. Steam com- 

 munication has been 

 established with Aus- 

 tralia. The Govern- 

 ment of New South 

 Wales, with the ap- 

 proval of the Legisla- 

 ture, has given a sub- 

 sidy, not only to aid 

 the maintenance of a 



monthly steam-service .between a port in the Islands and the colony, but also to assist in 

 keeping a steamer sailing throughout the Islands, and conveying passengers and trade to 

 meet the colonial line. This has been of great advantage to traders ; and the 

 Presbyterian Mission has in consequence sold the schooner which conveyed stores every 

 half-year from the colonies to the missionaries, and cruised among the mission stations 

 on the Islands. The contract with the Steam Navigation Company to do all the work 

 of the Mission has not involved much more outlay than was required to maintain the 

 schooner, while the communication between the colonies and the mission stations has 

 been made more frequent. The French colony of New Caledonia has also a steam 

 service between Noumea and the New Hebrides, while the Messageries Maritimes, 

 subsidized by the French Government, have a steamer going monthly from Sydney to 

 Noumea. The Australasian United Steam Navigation Company, which has the colonial 

 Government subsidy, besides sending a steam-ship to the New Hebrides monthly rid 

 Noumea and on to Fiji, has established fortnightly communication with Fiji, and has 

 also arranged to call at a port in the New Hebrides on the return voyage. These 

 facilities for travel and for commerce have induced settlers to establish themselves on 

 the Group with the hope of security to property and life. Some serious difficulties have 

 arisen which require immediate attention, and at present one of these is the need of 

 an authorized registry of title deeds to land purchased from the natives. Several years 

 ago it was reported that the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific appointed by 



A TRADING DEPOT IN THE SOUTH SEAS. 



