THE SHIPPING BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT OF PARDONED COMMUNISTS TO AUCKLAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1868, 19 February 1880, Page 3

THE SHIPPING BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT OF PARDONED COMMUNISTS TO AUCKLAND.

[By Tei,egeaph."| AUCKLAND, February 18. There is great indignation here at the landing of the twenty-five Communists,_ nine of whom are convicts under the criminal code, from the schooner Griffin, chartered by the French Government to convey them to New Zealand. In a very strongly-worded article, the Auckland paper has called on the people to rise to a man and resist, if need be forcibly, the "scandalous attempt of the authorities of New Caledonia to saturate this colony with the off-scourings of their bagnios," and it demands that Sir Hercules Eobinson shall support any measure hia Ministers may take. It says the omission imposes a special duty on the Mayor, in the discharge of which it trusts he will not fail. One unpardoned Communist succeeded in effecting his escape in the schooner Griffin. The escapee covered himself in the hold when the French gendarme searched the vessel, and did not make his appearance on deck until two days after the Griffin left Noumea. Malcolm McColl received by the Aotomahana to-day a letter from Mr Manning, brother of Judge Manning, of Hokianga, a merchant at New Caledonia, informing him that other Communists contemplate coming to Auckland at an early date. Manning writes, "There are a number of passengers now waiting here whom I have booked for Auckland. It is probable that the Ephemy, daily expected, will take them on. Should favorable news be received here from the passengers per Griffin, there will be a number to go from this place." Mr D. D. Cruiokshank, French Consul, states his instructions are not to take any official notice whatever of passengers from Noumea. As soon as Mr Whitaker, Attorney-General, received official information of the landing of the Frenoh prisoners at Onehunga, he communicated with his colleagues at Wellington. Unfortunately there is no English law whioh prohibits landing such persons in British dominions. Our special correspondent writes:_ — I understand that prompt and decisive action is being taken by the Government in regard to the extraordinary proceedings of the French Government in chartering a schooner to convey from New Caledonia to Auckland a batch of Frenoh convicts, whose terms of penal servitude had expired. Thes.i are said to include ordinary criminals of various classes. All were shipped to New Zualand by the express instructions of the French Government. The Government tire concerting measures with the Governments of the other Australian Colonies for joint remonstrance against this proceeding on the part of France. The necessary preliminaries have already been initiated, and the Attorney-General is being communicated with on the subject.