NEW CALEDONIA.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 105, 1 October 1874, Page 3

NEW CALEDONIA.

From the Melbourne Aye.

A correspondent, writing from Noumea on the 24th August last, states that “ in the beginning of July Admiral Ribour arrived here upon a special mission from the French Government, to inquire into the escape of Rochefort, Pascal, Grousset, Jourde, and the rest Avho got clear some months since in the P. C. E. On his arrival the place was turned upside down, and a searching inquiry made into the affair. Little or nothing, however, seemed to come of the inquiry, save the summary expulsion of a large number of communists from Noumea back to their island prison, sixty miles from here, frequently with only a few hours’ notice, no matter whether they had behaved themselves or not. These men, being the better behaved portion of the deportees, had, on their good conduct, been permitted by the Governor, M. de la Richerie, to come and practice their various occupations in Noumea and elsewhere, to the mutual benefit of themselves and the general public, for labor was much needed. On Saturday last, the 20th, the Admiral left Noumea for Fiji, to catch the mail there, by a Government steamer, the Cher, en route for France via San Francisco. After he had embarked he sent an order to the Governor to dismiss eight or ten superior and fifteen or twenty sub-officers otherwise degraded in office, and some received orders to return to France. This was done without a single word of warning, and to officers of many years’ service. His act is regarded here as a disgrace to the Government itself, as well as an insult to the Governor, by dealing thus with old, well-tried officers. He is spoken of as a Jesuit, and it is commonly remarked that one of the superior officers has been sacrificed because of his being a mason of high grade. The day he left news reached Noumea of the escape of Marshal Bazaine.