THE INSURRECTION IN NEW CALEDONIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5457, 23 September 1878, Page 3

THE INSURRECTION IN NEW CALEDONIA.

, The Melbourne Argus publishes portion of a letter, dated August I, written by a gentleman in the field against the insurgent natives of New Calidonia, Ho aays “It only this misfortunoto consummate the ruin of our unhappy country, already so severely tried. The aspect of Bouloupari and neighbourhood Is something shocking. All the little farms, cultivated with such great care and cost, are no, more. This district, which has been iu existence for the last fifteen years, exists no more. The crops are burnt, houses in flames, and the greater part of the settlers have paid dearly for their trust in the blacks by murder, rapine, and arson. What a lesson for us. The Government has taken all necessary measures, and since a month there is nothing further to deplore excepting the death of one convict, killed close'to Narai, while engaged in cutting grassat fifty yards from the camp. The troops have inflicted on the rebels some serious losses. They say that about fifty Kanakas have been killed, but the rapidity with which the natives remove their killed and wounded prevents one putting too much confidence in the above number. At all events their provisions must be getting low. A great many of their plantations have been destroyed, and their villages burnt, but tho mountains into which they have retreated render difficult their extermination. Their boldness is astonishing, coming up as they do within fifty or sixty yards of the camps, and showing a front to our bullets and rifles. In a scrimmage near Bouloupari they killed one of the horses belonging to my troop, and we were sufficiently near to receive their sling-shots and javelins. The affair might have turned out badly for ua if we had had any wounded, but luckily such was not the case. I start again on Monday next with iny men, and I trust we shall be. able to give them a final blow, what we call a coup de grace. The affairs in Noumea feel greatly the effects of this insurrection. The town is crowded with refugees fiom Bouloupari and Narai ; but, ■thanks to the funds subscribed here aud iu Australia, we can come to their help. 'We have moat heartily to thank our good neighbors of Australia for their generosity in this sorrowful event. By the last mail we received over £400.” The destruction of property is estimated at about £60,000.