The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 55
The Hinemoa Mystery Explained
The Hinemoa Mystery Explained.
Now there has been a great deal of misapprehension with regard to our views upon annexation, and particularly about our intentions in regard to the Hinemoa some weeks since. (laughter.) Gentlemen, I wish to explain this to you. There was no desire on the part of the Government to send the Hinemoa to Samca for the purpose of annexing the islands of that Group. It had been communicated to us that the leading chiefs and a great part of the white population of those islands desired to enter into more intimate relations with New Zealand, and all that we desired to do was to send the steamer there to ascertain the true position of affairs, and to find some moans of reconciling the various interests of the natives with those of the different Europeon populations, with the view, perhaps, of concentrating the trade in New Zealand—a work of great importance. It seems to me that, although bound to bow to the decision of the Home Government, it is a matter of regret that we should not have been allowed to send down the steamer for the purpose of assisting to remedy such a state of things as existed on those islands—that a peaceful community like that of New Zealand should not be allowed to keep open those islands to the trade of the whole world, I cannot help thinking that the people of Great Britain will not long submit to the present state of things when they learn that there is one portion of the globe which has been shut to English commerce and enterprise. It was a mistake on the part of the Home Government to issue its veto at all At any rate, our action in the matter was of some benefit after all, because it forced the hand of the British Government to the extent of sending down a man of war—the Miranda—and although before it arrived extreme action had been taken by the German population, yet I think when the news comes to hand we shall find that steps have been taken to abandon the arrangement which the Germans bad forced upon the native population, and by which in effect the people of all other countries on those islands would, be outlawed. The arrangement was such, and the provisions applying to the Courts of justice such, that the Germans would alone be able to obtain redress, whilst the Germans might with utter impunity pitch the English population into the sea. I do not think for a moment that that arrangement will be approved by the Imperial Government of Germany,—and I think that we have been to some extent serviceable in calling attention to it. I may say this, that I am not one of those who feel that there is much importance to be attached to the political annexation of the islands to New, Zealand. We do not want outside native difficulties, and we do not want outside difficulties to contend with.