Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1880-09-04

French Movements in the Pacific.
Annexation Of Tahiti and Mooren.. Protso.
torats Of tho Paumotu Group.

The French gun boat Guicjirn, guns, Cap
tain Girondc, arrived at Auckland July II,
from Tahiti, which port shc left on the 9th
inst. She Ind called in there to cable the in
telligence to the French Government that the
Island of Tahiti and that of Moorea have been
duly annexed to the French Republic, on the
petition Of the King, chiefs and people, who
desired the abolition of the protectorate and
their formal incorporation into the French do
minions. The late Queen Pomare's son, who
was King, has been pensioned off. A meeting
of the chiefs wns held ut which the whole
transaction was completed. Moorea Island
is about ten miles distant from Tahiti A
French procctoiate has also been established
at Ra,aiea, Paumotu, and over the whole of
the islands of the Low Archipelago, some
sixty-eight in number. Piumo,u signifies "a
cloud of islands an expressive term. This
collection of coral islands extends over lodges
of longitude, without taking into consideration
the detached islands to the sonth- east Of it.
The circumstances under which a protector
ate has been established over the island of
Raiatea are rather peculiar. 1t appears that
the German man. of-war Bismarck went to Raj
atea for tho purpose Of hosting the German
f,g in place of the commercial flag of Messrs.
Godeffro and Co., and where that commercial
company had an establishment The native
objected to a German protectorate, but it is al
legged the Germans got the King on board
made him drunk, and got him to sign docn-
ment, which was but of little value, as it had
not been signed by the other chiefs. This de
monstration provoked great indignation
amongst the natives. One of the principal
chiefs, with the approval of the whole Of the
natives, cut down the German flag. He was
afterwards seized by order Of tie commander
of the Bismarck, but was subsequently, re-
leased on the representations Of the natives
and of the commander of the English nan-o'-
war which was at Raiatea. The German man
o'-war having failed to establish a protector
ate left the island. Meanwhile the knowledge
of these events reached the ears of the authori-
ties at New Caledonia, who dispatched the
gunboat Chasseur to the island. The natives
applied to be taken under the protection of
France. The siep was taken by the King and
principal cefs with the full approval Of the
whole of the natives. There is reason to be-
lieve that the resident Presbyterian minister
Mr.. Pearse, took an active par; in bringing
about the result Of the French Irotectorate
and in defeating the negotiations of the Ger
mans. In the meantime, the British Consul q,
Tahiti, Mr.. Miller, had received intelligence
that French protectorate was likely to be
established, and he despatched H, NJ. S. o.
prey, Captain the Hon. Henry A'Court, to
Raiatea to observe the movements of the
French and German officers. On his arrival
at Raatea, the captain of the Osprey declined
to interfere, or to express any opinion about
either party. 1t is stated, however, that
he took the missionary sharply to task for
having involved himself in the complication.
The prOtectorate and annexation were for
mally accomplished about three weeks ago.
and NJ. Cheese is ut present Governor of Ta-
hti, awaiting instructions from Paris. Tho
Guichen will remain at Auckland for about u
week, and will then return to Tahiti, ~
This movement on their part iuaugurates
new state affairs in the Pacific, and will tend
largely to increase French prestige in these
seas There IL little doubt that il originates
in determination to counterfeit the operations
OF the German Empire in the South Pacific.
The manner in which il has been ACCOMPLISHED
may possibly lead to bitterness Of feeling and
complications between these two Great Powers.