THE FATE OF THE RUNAWAY CONVICTS IN NOUMEA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 58, 6 February 1877, Page 3

THE FATE OF THE RUNAWAY CONVICTS IN NOUMEA.

By a recent arrival from Noumea the following rather startling story is told, which is published as narrated :—Noumea, although within a short distance of us, is not much heard of in Auckland. Events, however, occasionally occur here that, being but vaguely reported in the colonial papers, excite but little interest But recently we heard how a crowd of Communists, or Communistic convicts, attempted to escape from Noumea in a steam launch, but were overtaken by a Government vessel. Two of the runaways, we were told, drowned themselves to avoid re-capture, but what became of the others

was not mentioned. It maybe interesting to hear that French justice did not allow the light of another day to shine on them —before daylight they were guillotined. Everybody who has visited Noumea has noticed the gangs of convicts who, under the supervision of " surveillants," are demolishing an elevation adjacent to the water front, much resembling the Fort Britomart Hill, now under course of destruction in this city. Through the premature explosion of a blast, one of these Noumea convicts recently lost the use of both legs. He was carried into the shed, and there medically examined, and it was pronounced that he would for ever afterwards be unfit for work. What was to be done with a convict who threatened to become a burden to the Republic? Oakumpicking is too mild a punishment according to French ideas for one who has broken the law, and whom the law punishes accordingly. It is true that the convict had lost his legs in the performance of the labour assigned to him by law, but since his capacity for labour was done, the State had no further need of.him. Accordingly, they treated him with that charity which is showed to a maimed and useless horse— they shot him to death with a revolver. The Noumea convict has, indeed, more right than the typical Uncle Tom to ask, " Am I not also a man and a brother ?" — Southern Cross.