“This question of the annexation of New Guinea is still creating a good deal of interest, and although at present the Imperial Government, through Lord Derby, has given its decision against annexation, yet the whole matter must, I have no doubt, be reconsidered, and the island be eventually annexed.  It is to be hoped the country is not to become part of the Australian colonies—­a labour land, and a land where loose money in the hands of a few capitalists is to enter in and make enormous fortunes, sacrificing the natives and everything else.  If the Imperial Government is afraid of the expense, I think that can easily be avoided.  Annex New Guinea, and save it from another power, who might harass our Australian colonies; administer it for the natives, and the whole machinery of government can be maintained by New Guinea, and allow a large overplus.  We have all the experience of the Dutch in Java; I say, accept and improve.

“It will be said that, as a nation, Britain has never tried to govern commercially, or has not yet made money out of her governing; and why should she now?  She does not want New Guinea.  Why should she go to the expense of governing?  Her colonies may be unsafe with a country of splendid harbours so near in the hands of a foreign power, and the people of that country need a strong, friendly, and just power over them, to save them from themselves and from the white man—­whose gods are gold and land, and to whom the black man is a nuisance to be got rid of as soon as possible.  Let Britain for these reasons annex, and from the day of annexation New Guinea will pay all her own expenses; the expenses of the first three years to be paid with compound interest at the end of that period.

“Let us begin by recognizing all native rights, and letting it be distinctly understood that we govern for the native races, not the white men, that we are determined to civilize and raise to a higher level of humanity those whom we govern, that our aim will be to do all to defend them and save them from extermination by just humanitarian laws—­not the laws of the British nation—­but the laws suited for them.  It will not take long for the natives to learn that not only are we great and powerful, but we are just and merciful, and we seek their good.

“That established, I would suggest appointing officers in every district, whose duty it would be to govern through the native chief, and see that every native attended to plantations.  A native planting tea, sugar, coffee, maize, cinchona, etc., to be allowed a bounty, and when returns arrived to be allowed so much per pound sterling.  All these things to be superintended by the said officer.

“Traders would soon swarm, but no one should be allowed to trade with natives directly, but only through the Government.

“All unoccupied land to belong to the Government, and to be leased to those wishing land.  No native should be allowed to part with land, and if desirous to sell, then only to the Government, who would allow him a reasonable price.  Every land transaction to be made through Government; no land to be sold, only leased.