§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any Report on the geographical position of Raiatea, and other Islands in the Pacific, whose independence, notwithstanding the Treaty of 1847, has been surrendered to the French, has been received from Admiral Fairfax; whether the said Islands are in the direct route to America, and contain splendid harbours; and, if he will lay any further Papers on the subject upon the Table of the House?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N. E.)No Report upon the Islands in question has been received from Rear Admiral Fairfax, and indeed they do not lie within the limits of his command, nor has any such Report been received of late years from any naval officer. Further Papers upon this subject are being prepared for Parliament.