‘In effect,’ said Sir George, ’I was recalled from South Africa, on account of proposals I had made, towards federation in that part of the realm.  I planned to federate, for common action, Cape Colony, Natal, our other territories, and also the Orange Free State.  Farther, I had virtually asked the co-operation of the Transvaal Republic, with the Government and people of which, I was on very friendly terms.  There was to be no change anywhere; simply, a federal Parliament would manage affairs that were of concern to all parties.  I have little doubt that I could have brought about federation, only I was not permitted to go on.  Much as my proposals were supported in South Africa, I could get no hearing for them from my superiors at home.’

It had been the same when, in New Zealand, he took steps to paint all the Pacific Isles, British.  He wanted the Pacific, then largely an unstaked claim, to have our flag flying in solitary peace.  Thus the smaller sections of the New World, like the larger areas, should be led onward, undisturbed by the rivalries of the Old World.  Fill the lap of England with distant lands, but exact from her the most sublime service to them-that of a mother.  If Sir George had been supported, New Caledonia would have entered the British nursery.

‘I had,’ that lost part of our history ran; ’regarded the New Caledonian group as pertaining to New Zealand.  Making a tour of the Pacific Islands, with Bishop Selwyn, I visited New Caledonia.  We had no representative there, and three days before our arrival, a French frigate had put in and hoisted the French flag.

’I protested against that, in an official letter to the French captain.  He declared his orders from the French Government to be specific; he was to annex New Caledonia.  I had an old brig, while he had a good man-of-war.  No doubt I could have spoken with more authority, if my vessel had also been a man-of-war.  However, as a result of my representations, it was arranged that the French should do nothing, incur no expenditure, which would interfere with the island being declared British, until we had referred the matter to our Governments.

’This was about the time of the agreement, between ourselves and Louis Napoleon, in reference to the invasion of the Crimea.  It is conceivable, that the French Emperor took advantage of the opportunity to lay hands on New Caledonia.  Anyhow, I feared that the alliance might counteract my despatch to London.  Most likely it did, for I was instructed that the French were to be left in possession.’

While sailing the Pacific, Sir George also called at Norfolk Island, then a prison house.  The worst characters of the Australian penal settlements, those to whom perdition beaconed, were drafted to Norfolk Island.  The whole scene shocked Sir George, as it rankled in his memory, a sombre nightmare.  It saddened him, to think that so fair a place should be one of the black spots of the earth.