Torres Strait.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 15 January 1891, Page 2

Torres Strait.

— ~ — ♦- At the north of Cape York peninsula, Queensland is the channel connecting die Coral sea with the Arafura sea, and known as Torres Strait. Between the North Gapaand New Guinea, right across the straits are numberless islands. At present the boundary of Queensland is drawn far out to sea along the Great Barrier reef, and reaching '"tcTihe coast of New Ginea embraces all these scattered islets. The three largest islands are named, Prince of Wales, Banks, and Mulgraye, but clustered close ,tp -the Prince of Wales', are Tuesday, and Thursday and Friday islands. As we have had news lately direct from Thursday island, we suppose some connection is kept up with it by steamers passing through the straits to Sydney and elsewhere. To the westward of the straits is the Malayian Archipelago, notorious for years for being the haunt of pirates. Yon get the Malay, the Siamese and the Chinese all within a reasonable distance. Wo cannot say that we are surprised at the news received on the 9th instant that a tribe of head hunters have annihilated a village of 40 inhabitants at Thursday island, and are preparing to take the next vil'age, which is next to the residence of Mr Cameron, the Government Agent, whom they also threaten to atttack. A force of constabulary has been sent from Moresby to protect Mr Cameron. Later news from Thursday island also states that the steamer Naman left Hong Kong on the 10th for Swatow, and whilst in these Siraits she was attacked. She had on board four saloon and 259 Chinese passengers. When the vessel was about 35 miles outside of the harbour, and while all on board were" a^^im^rJips^^aß taken possession of by aslpj^ of <80 pirates, armed withrevolversahdcjatlas3es, who had joined the steamer as passengers. . ..! The four saloon passengers, who were dining on deck, were shot dead and Captain Pocock, who was in charge of the Naman, met a similar fate while parleying with the pirates. The Malay quarter master was next disposed of, his body being thrown overboard. The Europeans who were on board were taken completely by sur« prise. The pirates fired wildly into the cabin, throwing stinkpots at the officers, who were quite unarmed and unprepared for such an emergency. After taking some 80,000 dollars worth of pluuder, the pirates landed at Mendoya Island, and those of the ship's company who had remained in hiding, and thus escaped the notice of the pirates, slipped anchor and steamed the vessel baok to Hong Kong. This state of affairs seems suddenly to have broken out afresh, and has probably been encouraged by a false sense of security. Under these circumstance?, [and noting the distance Coo It town is from th« north of the Cap j. it is not surprising to learn that a scheme is being discussed at Thursday Island to have (hat and the other islands in Torres S rait erected into a seperata State uader the federal authority of Australia.