WALLIS ISLAND.
THE FRENCH RESIDENT AND THE ; PRIESTS. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Sydney, January 4. Dr. Borchard, the French Resident at Wallis Island, has returned from a visit to France, where lie went to consult the Colonial Minister in reference to a trouble that has for a long time existed between, the Resident and the Marist Brothers at the island. Dr. Borchard's mission, was to obtain authority to break the alleged overruling powers of the priests, and he returns armed with special instructions from the- Minister to deal with the situation. Ho di< lines to distlose particulars. THE TWO SIDES. Some timo ago Dr. Borcnard stated that "the natives some time ago ordered the priests—five in number—to leave. They (the priests) took no notice, but imported rifles and ammunition, and distributed them among the friendly natives. They deposed the king and appointed a king of their own choice. The priests have been petting most of the money for the copra, the natives doing all the work. Tho priests made the natives build houses and churches without pay." The Rev. Father Chevrevil, procurator of the Marist Brothers' Mission in tho South Seas, in reply to this, stated that the Governor of New Caledonia visited Wallis Island to investigate tho charges of clerical intolerance. Ho afterwards condemned tho Commissioners' action, and eulogised the work of the missionaries. The fact was, added Father Chevrevil. that the King and his Ministers enacted some stringent laws nrotectinpr commercial interests and the honour of women against adventurers. Tho statement that (ho natives - had (o kneel whilo tho priests passed by was absolutely untrue. The custom of kneeling to chiefs was extended a≤ a mark of respect to preists, who were considered as chiefs. Tho statement that natives seized opportunities to run away was untrue. They wore always of a roving disposition, (hey were free to travel, and frequently did so. Mostly, however, they return to the island.
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Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1329, 5 January 1912, Page 5
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320WALLIS ISLAND. Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1329, 5 January 1912, Page 5
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