There was
to be no change anywhere; simply, a federal Parliament would manage
affairs that were of concern to all parties. I have little doubt that I
could have brought about federation, only I was not permitted to go on.
Much as my proposals were supported in South Africa, I could get no
hearing for them from my superiors at home.'
It had been the same when, in New Zealand, he took steps to paint all the
Pacific Isles, British. He wanted the Pacific, then largely an unstaked
claim, to have our flag flying in solitary peace. Thus the smaller
sections of the New World, like the larger areas, should be led onward,
undisturbed by the rivalries of the Old World. Fill the lap of England
with distant lands, but exact from her the most sublime service to them-
that of a mother. If Sir George had been supported, New Caledonia would
have entered the British nursery.
'I had,' that lost part of our history ran; 'regarded the New Caledonian
group as pertaining to New Zealand. Making a tour of the Pacific Islands,
with Bishop Selwyn, I visited New Caledonia. We had no representative
there, and three days before our arrival, a French frigate had put in and
hoisted the French flag.
'I protested against that, in an official letter to the French captain.
He declared his orders from the French Government to be specific; he was
to annex New Caledonia.
Pages:
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183