EXTRACTS FROM SYDNEY PAPERS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 64, 10 March 1843, Page 3

EXTRACTS FROM SYDNEY PAPERS.

NORFOLK ISLAND. Sir George Gipps is about to proceed to Norfolk Island, by order of the Home Government, to inspect personally the system pursued there by Captain Maconochie. Information has reached us by the Governor Phillip, that crime is still greatly on the increase at Norfolk Island, and that the grossest insubordination prevails amongst the convicts there. It is difficult, we understand, to arrive at the true state of affairs, even on the spot: and the following are only a few of the circumstances, or such as have reached us. For the correctness of these we have undoubted authoritv.

A complete still has been found, in a hut occupied by some of the prisoners holding tickets-of-leave under Captain Maconochie’s system ; and they have been in the habit of producing a very strong spirit, resembling whisky, from it. The convict police who went to seize the parties, finding some of the spirits in the place, took a fancy to taste it, and all became intoxicated. It is said that the whole of the men implicated in this affair are leading members of the social band, or'rather banditti.

A ticket-of-leave man was discovered with some fresh beef in his possession, part of a government bullock that had been feloniously slaughtered. He was sentenced to receive 300 lashes, and took 200 of them without disclosing any of his accomplices. At this stage of the punishment he offered to implicate another ticket-of-leave man if he were then let off, and upon his testimony this other man, who had hitherto borne a good character, was in an hour or two afterwards punished with 300 lashes, which were administered without mitigation. We could hardly believe that Captain Maconochie would ever resort to these acts of severity, how deserving soever they may be, were it not apparent that he feels most acutely the effects which such delinquencies must necessarily have upon his system. Boat-building seems to be a most fashionable amusement amongst the old hands, as they are called, who, keeping in view the old proverb of “ make hay while the sun shines,” are using every endeavour to effect their escape from the island before a change of administration takes place. It is already known that eight or nine of them went away in a large boat built in a cave under an officer’s garden ; and that nine others, in another boat, were captured at a neighbouring island. Where do the materials come from ? is a very natural question : and what kind of discipline can there

be which admits of these occurrences ? It never used to be so in former times ; simply, we presume, because proper vigilance was adopted by the authorities. o Attempt of the Inhabitants of New Caledonia to Capture the Brigantine Bull. August 18th, 1842. —Came to an anchor in the south side of the bay, on the N. W. part of the island of Leefoo; found the natives very friendly at the place where the vessel lay, and continued trading with them on the most friendly terms during our stay at the island. September 2nd.—A native chief, who generally slept on board, after being in bed for some time, got up and told us not to sleep, as the chief of the other side of the bay intended making an attack on the vessel that night with his war canoes; turned the hands up to get the vessel in a state of defence; in getting springs on the cable, the canoes in shore hearing the noise, gave up that night’s attempt; which information we heard from our friendly chief. On the following evening, at seven p. m., the look-out observed a large war canoe on the larboard quarter, paddling up alongside; we immediately asked them if they had any wood, after some time they answered, No; but said they were coming on board; we told them to keep off; they said they would not, but would come on board. After cautioning them what the consequence would be if they approached, we fired several muskets over their heads, to which they paid no attention, but still kept paddling up alongside; finding they were determined to board us, and being only a few yards from the quarter, and not knowing but that there might be more canoes close at hand, the night being very dark, we were under the necessity of firing on them, when they paddled off threatening to return again with more canoes, and renew the attack; kept all hands under arms during the night. Daylight, got under-weigh, and proceeded to another island, where we found the natives very friendly. We left it on the 12th October, (on the most friendly terms with the natives, who treated us very kindly during our stay), and proceeded towards New Caledonia. October 16th.—Entered the reefs adjoining New Caledonia, three p. m., came to an anchor in Balade; several canoes came off—they appeared very shy, and would not come alongside for some time ; after convincing them that we were friendly, they commenced coming on board in great numbers; saw a white boy or woman among the natives on the reef adjoining the shore ; about 5 p. in. we had fully 200 natives on deck, they did not bring any article of trade with them, and were mostly armed; the chiefs were making long speeches to their people on deck, and appeared to be counting our number of men ; they all wanted to remain on board during the night, but this could not be allowed, as they appeared to be planning to take the ship ; after a good deal of persuasion we got them all to leave the ship, with the exception of thirteen who would not go. We therefore allowed them to remain for a short time, not wishing to resort to violent measures, if possible to avoid it; they remained on board till 9 p. m., when the captain tried to get them away, but to no purpose, they appearing hostile, and flourished a club over his head several times; he had at last to get some arms up, at the sight of which they jumped overboard and swam on shore.

Monday 17th.—Daylight, calm, the natives coming on board in great numbers. 6h. 30m. observed 15 war canoes coming towards us from the southward, full of men; 7 a. m., an immense number of natives swimming off from the reefs armed with clubs and spears; observed the chiefs on the poop sending all the unarmed men into the canoes, and calling those with arms to come on deck. We had about three hundred natives on deck at this time. We told the chiefs repeatedly to keep the people off, but they paid no attention to us; they did not bring any article of trade with them, and were evidently bent on mischief. The chiefs then stationed their people around the ship, and commenced dancing and quivering spears and clubs on the poop. Went below to get the arms loaded, when the people came down and told us the natives had stole part of a new sail, the boat’s oars and rudder, and that their numbers were increasing fast, they boarded the ship in every direction, besides having four war canoes stationed round the ship, at about twenty yards distance, full of armed men. Unfortunately our big guns were secured fore and aft, so that we had no time to get them ready, and had nothing to trust to but our small arms. As soon as our people had got armed, we went on deck, and before we had time to station the men, the natives gave a shout which was followed by spears thrown from the poop and canoes. We then commenced-to clear the poop, which we effected after a desperate resistance on the part of the natives, in which several of them got severely wounded. Left some men to guard the poop, and commenced clearing the gangways amidst a shower of spears and clubs, the natives amidships • retreated forward, and rallied about the windlass, where they fought desperately for some time, but were at last ©Jjliged to give way. One of

our men was engaged hand to hand witli six of them on the forecastle. He had lost his pistol, and had his cutlass bent and broke parrying oft the blows from their clubs. They succeeded in knocking him down, but fortunately he escaped with a severe wound in his head. We at last cleared the forecastle and got possession of the ship, when providentially a light wind sprung up, and enabled us to get away from these treacherous islanders; had it not been for the spirited resistance shown by every one on board during the attack, there is not a doubt but they would have succeeded in taking the ship. Some of our people had very narrow escapes from the spears and clubs, which were flying about in all directions, but fortunately we all escaped unhurt with one exception. We w©£& from Caledonia to the Isle of Pines, where we remained one night, not liking the appearance of the natives. A Leefoo native, of the Isle of Pines, told us that some brig had been attacked during our absence, by the natives of the Isle of Pines, and that all the crew had been murdered, with the exception of three who had escaped with the vessel. Whether it is true or not we cannot say. Nicholas Werngerm, Master.