GUN-RUNNING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1921, 2 December 1913, Page 7

GUN-RUNNING.

IN THE SOLOMONS, DISSATISFACTION AMOXU THIS NATIVES, Remarkable allegations of gan-rmniinit and the arming of natives in the .Solomons woro mode by file passengers aboarii tlio Mlndini, which' arrived in Brisbane yeceutly from tho islands. The jiasseugws sfulxvi that a certain ■steamer was {(uarantbied at Tubus, in eoi!?oc|Uerseo of tlio smallpox m Sydney, 'rind'during the period of ynarantine some Of the me II gave certain i® the ■ Government, with the result that the vessel was watched and 16 Snider rifles and 300(1 Founds of 'ammunition were found hidden aboard tho As a result of these revelation? two natives were charged, and one was fitted £50, which was 'instantly paid; and the oilier, bein;.; unable 1 to pay the fine, 'was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. One of the passengers iuinard the JTindini expressed the ojwftion that an Indian eoolie in Sydney was supplying the unlives with arms. The .p&Sfejigcrs doclarn that the natives were lavjjelv armed, tlinrtishoufc the Solomons, and that tho isiaiid' of Choisc-nl was lull of piuw. Instance.* were quoted in which five natives had offered sums of money to white }iion for cartridges. A luuive was punished at New Ceoreia for coriyi»(f a rifle, ami the other natives in the locality becamo alarmed, With the result that tliejaU brought their ftims to the Government official, and ho thus secured several Jinndred weapons. The Molaiieskift mission station on Choisenl has been threatened. W the natives, and the native police- hayo been sent to the station, and other methods' taken to prevent an assault. The passengers complained that Bin new duties imposed on articles imparted, into the Solomons are unduly harassing (lie while settlors. They point, out that (lie duty on tobacco has been reifed to 3s. per llj.i and -.ft charjie on each rifle <.r revolver, and 10# per cent, cn rifle cartridges As a result of (lie restriction*, and liecaii'ts tiettej l conditio*!' prevail In flerniaii tevritovw seme of the settlers hnvo left, the British SOlonrtms f-of the German. territory.