§ MR. J. F. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the boundary lines between British and German New Guinea have been mutually agreed upon and definitely determined; whether he is aware that Mr. E. G. Braddon, a British subject, prospecting for gold in British New Guinea, was recently called upon by the local German authorities to surrender certain golden specimens in his possession on the ground that they had been extracted from German territory; and whether, having regard to the fact that German New Guinea is about to be formally converted into a colony under the direct management and control of the Imperial Government at Berlin, any steps are in contemplation by Her Majesty's Government to permanently settle the respective limits of British and German jurisdiction within the island?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe boundary line between British and German New Guinea was agreed upon in 1885, as will be seen by reference to page 161 of the Blue-book C4,584. Whether that boundary line should be physically demarcated on the spot is a question which concerns primarily the Governments of Queensland and the other Australian colonies. As at present advised, I do not consider it necessary to move in the matter.