NEW CALEDONIA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 329, 4 December 1865, Page 1

NEW CALEDONIA.

FURTHER ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN THE FRENCH & NATIVES. GREAT DESTRUCTION OP VILLAGES. ' (Translated for the Daily Southern Cross.) By the last mail from Sydney we were placed in receipt of a file of the New Caledonia Moniteur up to the 29th October inclusive. The only news of interest to our readers is contained in the report or M. Camus and Billes relative to the further proceedings of the Gatope expedition in pursuit ot the caumba! murderers of the settler Taillard, and the crews of the Secret and Queen of the 8 , • regret that we have not space to give at lull length the official, yet interesting reports which those officers forwarded to the Governor ot New Caledonia, detailing the operations of the lorces under their respective commands ; we are compelled, therefore, to confine ourselves to giving a short condensation. Captain Camus declares in the conclusion of his report that in his attack ou iramale—the residence of Poindi Patchili, murderer of the settler Taillard —he had carried out jus instructions of burning and destroying the villages, and as completely as possible destroying the c f°.P?" , effect of their arms had also been strikingly felt by thirty or forty Kanacks having been killed or mortally wounded : whilst such had been the persistency and vigor of the pursuit after the cannibals, that many corpses had been met natives had had time to collect and hide them from the French—a duty which they strictly observed in every possible instance. The troops and native allies were animated with the greatest rivalry in courageous acts, and the latter were fouud of great assistauce in destroying and firing the plantations. The only person wounded on the side of the French was, Corporal Spitz, by a ball from the enemy. Captain Billes, commanding the expedition into the interior, furnishes most interesting details of the innumerable difficulties met with during the progress of the expeditionary force from settlement to settlement, and the opposition offered by the aborigines. In the conflagration of the village of Poma, nineteen Knacks of both sexes became a prey to the flames, and during the retirement of the troops to the camping ground, Dr Cailcoup and five soldiers were wounded by the heavy stones which the natives hurled from neighboring did’, Upon arrival at the village of Poinaue, on the 16th October, a message was despatched to the rebel chief, Pohen, for the purpose of intimating a parley was desired. Captain Billes then addressed the natives in the following terms: — French have many times surprised the men of Gate and of Pamale, who have already been exposed to numerous losses, aud many have forfeited their lives for their cannibal propensities. Satisfied with the reprisals which have been exercised, the Irench again come, not to make war, but to offer peace to Gondon and to Poindi Patchili. They promise to save the life of those two chiefs if they give themselves up, that they may be conducted to the great chief of the white*, who alone is empowered to receive their submission. Their immediate surrender is the only obligatory condition for the obtaining of peace.” After some tergiversations the Knacks replied, “ Gondou and Poindi Patchili fear that they will be killed.” Captain Billes replied that “they h*idcause for fear; that the French never lied.” A short delay again ensued, the Kanacks consulting amongst themselves, when they said, “ Come and plant two flags in our village, and our two chiefs will place themselves under the protection of those emblems.” The two colors having been hoisted at the place indicated, Captain Billes said, 11 If the two chiefs do not come to the camp at Poihe before sundown hostilities will be recommenced, the villages will be reduced to cinders, aud the plantations swept away.” The troops then returned to camp. In the evening the naives came towards the camo, apparrently with the intention of surrendering 1 ; but after some hesitatiau they retired without attempting to communicate with Captain Billes. On the succeeding day the troops surrounded the settlement, the movements of the forces beim* attentively watched by the natives, who crowded the neighboring heights. An intimation was given to them that there was yet time for them to surrender ; but upon their negative response being received, the bugle sounded the signal for the village to be set on fire, aud the engagement commenced. The neighboring villages of Pehema and Poindeha were also destroyed by fire, and chase was given to the inhabitants. The two chiefs Gondou and Poindi Patchili were noticed amongst the fugitives, and the former was wounded by a ball from the rifle of a soldier named Giraud but he succeeded in escaping, although leaving behind traces of blood. In the attack and de“ struction of Tionbalapatou Corporal Spitz was struck on the thigh by a ball. The several setlements between Tionbalapatou and Poma were subsequently attacked and all the habitations burned; also the hamlets of Tiounegape, Tautapa, and Poxndefa ; and all the plantations laid even with the ground. All the villages owning Gondou as chief were thus destroyed, his numerous cultivations laid waste, and more than thirty of his tribe slain ; the expedition having been engaged in the work of destruction seven days. The Governor has been making a tour round the various settlements in the c. lony, having W* Port de France in the Fulton on ttie 11th (W and returned on the 25th. Whilst the Fallon was at Ounda the chief Tinggln, followed by fiv« or six principal meu of his tribe arrived on board

and made his submission to the Governor, promising also to obey the orders of the Commandant of the North-west district. He was forbidden to give protection or succonr to the cannibals of Pouanloitehe, Paquiepe, and Ponangue. At Gotnene two other natives made their submission, also bringing on board with them two infants which had been found in the bush, but belonged to the rebel settlement of Papuiepe. The children were to be placed in the native schools. At Pouebo many settlers had taken up their residence. Mr Henry, an Englishman, was authorised to search for sandal wood in the north part of New Caledonia, and has definitely settled at the spot. His representative, Mr Percy is established at about nine kilometres from the camp Oubatohe, at a point where a good anchorage is found. Already provisions, materials, two horses, and 23 immigrants from the New Hebrides, have debarked there; a workshop has been constructed, and a residence for the workmen is going up. At Hienguene the coflee trees planted in 1863, by Mr GUillain, are are commencing to yield fruit, and the seeds will be immediately returned to the earth, with the view of propagating the culture of this tree in the colony.