THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2148, 14 June 1889, Page 3

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

♦ (FSB FBBSS /.SSOOTATIOK )\ Mubottrh*, Jane 13. The "Argus" correspondent at Havannah Harbor m a letter to that paper says that the Messageries steamer Tanais, with forty residents of Noumea on board, among whom are believed to have been several high French officials, visited the New Hebrides group on a recent occasion. The trip is believed to have been undertaken at the instance of the French Government. While the vessel was at Fila a meeting was held on board, at which resolutions were passed which, it is said, indicated the establishment of French law at Fila, m the immediate future. Is was also announced on the occasion referred to that the French Governor of New CaledoDia would shortly pay a visit to Ihe place m a warship, when people resident there would be invited to attend a meeting, presumably with the object of securing concurrence with the resolutions passed by the meeting on board the Tanais. As bearing on the episode reported above a well authenticated story comes from Noumea to the effect that when Mr Romilly was appointed British Consul at New Hebrides, the French Governor of New Caledonia went so far as to ask him not to proceed to his new post till he had communicated with the French Government on the subject, but that Mr Romilly declined to accede to the request.