§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, What are the limits of the "certain British territory" in New Guinea which has been erected into a separate Possession and Government by the name of British New Guinea; whether the whole of that territory is really in the effective possession of Her Majesty; and, how it was acquired, whether by conquest, cession, or how; if by cession, by whom it was ceded? The hon. Gentleman also asked, Whether the creation of British New Guinea to a separate Government meant that it was separate from Queensland, or remained under that Colony to the same extent as before?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The boundaries are those of the Protectorate, which have already been laid before Parliament. They will be found in the new Letters Patent which have just been printed for Parliament, and will be distributed to-morrow or Wednesday. The answer to the second paragraph of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. In reply to the last paragraph of the Question, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government are advised that the territory must be regarded as acquired by settlement. With regard to the hon. Member's supplementary Question without Notice, I can only repeat the statement that there has been an Administrator appointed for New Guinea.