The promptitude with which Queens land annexed New Guinea nearly four years ago is commendable. Had no( this been done that vast insular territory would m all probability be now m the possession of a foreign power, and consequently lost to the British Empire Contrary to expectation the annexation did not at first meet with the approba tion of the Imperial Government, anc a voluminous correspondence had tc take place between the Queensland Government and the Downing Streei officials ere the action of the Northerr Colony was ratified. The Secretary oi State for the Colonies, m a despatch tc the Governor of Queensland, alleged as \ an excuse for demurring m the matter that England was averse to the acquire' ment of further territory, and had nol additional pressure been brought upor the Home Government New Guinet would not now form a British depend' ency. New Guinea is, with the exceptior of Australia, the largest island oi the globe. Its Boil is exceedingly rich its timber is excellent, and its mineral! of varied descriptions inexhaustible Its shores abound with valuable pear shells, and its waters teem with' fish As far as explorations have been made there is every reason to expect thai New Guinea is destined to become i great country. Geologists who havi paid short visits to the island believe from the appearance of some of thi mountain ranges m the northern parti of the country that gold exists neai their base, and small specimens of th< precious metal have been already founc m some of the mountain streams Several large navigable rivers have beer discovered by explorers, and on th< banks of some of these there ' are largi tracts of level and fertile land. The island is everywhere clothed with the most luxuriant vegetation, cocoanut, betel sago, banana, bread fruit, orange, lemon &c. The natives, who are supposed to number upwards of three millions are well made, have regular featnres are intelligent and have black, eyes They are superior m stature to averagi Europeans, but have long and thin legi and the splay foot of the negr». Thi men build the houses, hollow the trunki of trees into canoes, whilst the womei cultivate the fields and make mats am pots. Like other savages, the triba natives aro frequently at war with eacl other, and great slaughter is the resul on many occasions. 