LATEST FROM NEW CALEDONIA.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1544, 30 January 1879, Page 3

LATEST FROM NEW CALEDONIA.

[By Telegeaph.] [ Via Auckland.] News from Noumea to January 4th reports that the natives are completely starved out. The missionary natives are praised for the assistance rendered to the military. Horrible cannibal stories are related. A convict found a piece of meat, which he supposed to be pork ; but a friendly native had a d'fficulty in persuading him that it was “ 'iaefau, white man ” Eighteen baskets were found filled with morsels of human food. The friendly natives are as prone as the others to cannibal feasting, and many a one was seen taking advantage of the death or flight of the first owner of bodies. From five to six hundred at least are estimated to have been killed of the rebels, half of wnieh number probably died of wounds received, such as would have brought down a white man, but with which black fellows run or crawl away to die in some hole. Two hundred captured rebels are now expatriated to the Isle of Pines. The operations of the military now consist chicfiy by placing the country in a more efibieut state of defence by the erection of military posts throughout the .sland. The revolted districts will he cleared of all natives, except such as have operated with the Government against the rebels. On December ‘2Bth the tribes of Adio and Pocqnereux surrendered, and were despatches to the Isle of Pines. About 400 others were sent to Eelep Island in the north and to a small island in the Loyalty Group. News arrived that the friendly natives of “ Pauerihonen tribe attacked the rebels of the

Onnoua tribes, making a few prisoners and killing ten of the enemy, imlading t'ae importing chief e, Qean Marie,” who is known to be the murderer of Lemaisou’s family. On the 291 h tue Legoua arrived from her visit frith captured rebels to the Isle of f ines. On January'3rd there was nothing fresh to report from the country districts. The revolt seemed at an end, except for such few rebels as remained amongst the mountains awaiting punishment. The heather Bell case has assumed a new and serious aspect. The master and owner, -Tno. Waley, was ordered to take her tad all his old crew to Fiji, to appe r before the Court of the High Commission for the Western Pacific Llauds, to answer the charges brought against him.