When we remember the manner in which some of the colonies of
Great Britain were acquired, the _Times_ seems almost
squeamish.

In a Melbourne paper, June, 1884, is the following paragraph:

"Toward the latter part of 1883 the Government of Queensland
planted the flag of Great Britain on the shores of New Guinea.
When the news reached England it created a sensation. The Earl of
Derby, Secretary for the Colonies, refused, however, to sanction
the annexation of New Guinea, and in so doing acted contrary to
the sincere wish of every right-thinking Anglo-Saxon under the
Southern Cross.

"While the subsequent correspondence between the Home and
Queensland governments was going on, Brigadier-General H. R.
MacIver originated and organized the New Guinea Exploration
and Colonization Company in London, with a view to establishing
settlements on the island. The company, presided over by General
Beresford of the British Army, and having an eminently
representative and influential board of directors, had a capital of
two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and placed the supreme
command of the expedition in the hands of General MacIver.
Notwithstanding the character of the gentlemen composing the
board of directors, and the truly peaceful nature of the expedition,
his Lordship informed General MacIver that in the event of the
latter's attempting to land on New Guinea, instructions would be
sent to the officer in command of her Majesty's fleet in the
Western Pacific to fire upon the company's vessel. This meant that