Purrubs.—Cirilization of the Pacific. 69 
On his return to New Zealand he reported the circumstance to the Colonial 
Office, and the matter ended by his commission being cancelled so far as it 
concerned New Caledonia. The Government of the time did not wish to go 
into the question. The Sydney papers of the day bitterly lamented the 
inaction of the home authorities. 
With regard to Tahiti, French occupation means absolute authority. 
Now, the British publie contributed thousands of pounds to the cause of 
civilization in this group, and the records of the London Missionary Society 
testify to the loss of life which the work entailed. For nearly fifty years 
the head-quarters of our missionaries in the Pacific were established in the 
group; yet the French were quietly allowed to add it to. their Colonial pos- 
sessions by the establishment of a nominal protectorate. In the petition for 
protection, which certainly is a most curious document, it will be seen 
that the poor Queen had to especially stipulate for the English missionaries 
to be allowed to pursue their calling unmolested. That the clause was 
necessary is shown in the fact that our clergymen, since that date, have been 
expelled from the group, only one remaining. I believe, however, that it is 
their intention to return. 
Writing upon the civilization of the Pacific, one is almost inclined to 
say that the advent of the French drove the true civilizers—English mis- 
' gionaries—from the field. Is it not time that this portion of international 
law should be looked into, especially as regards the Pacific ? English mis- 
sionaries are also British subjects. Surely no foreign power has the right 
to occupy landsin which they reside without paying some deference to their 
interests. If any nation has acquired a vested interest in the Pacific, 
England, through her missionaries, planters, and traders, has most assuredly 
done so. Certainly no foreign power ought to occupy any such islands 
without at least informing the British Government of its intention so to do. 
I purposely use the word occupy, as it possesses a peculiar meaning. 
Colonies are acquired by conquest, cession, or occupation. No power, with 
the exception of Spain, has acquired a colony in the Pacific by conquest ; 
neither does any power wish to do so. Cession and occupation appear to 
be the favourite modes of acquiring possession therein. In a ceded group 
of islands, such as Fiji, the voice of all interested is taken, and no injury to 
any foreign interest is committed. France, however, chooses to occupy 
certain islands—viz., New Caledonia and the Loyalty Groups—whereby 
that Government greatly injures all foreign interests, besides ignoring the 
native population, In my opinion, the only fair and international mode of 
acquiring these islands is by cession. Civilized nations ought to treat the 
Pacific islands somewhat differently to their usual customs. It must be 
remembered that the islanders can make use of all their islands. There 
