THE TROUBLE IN NEW CALEDONIA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 731, 13 August 1878, Page 2

THE TROUBLE IN NEW CALEDONIA.

News per Hero, which arrived at Auckland yesterday, states that the troops, after destroj'ing a village, were upon their return to the camp attacked by about 250 to 300 natives at "Boulapari. Waiting for a place sufficiently open to att'ord them a chance of seeing the savages, the troops kept on, and then turned, and over 15 blacks bit the dust. How many more were wounded is unknown, for the rebels disappeared in the thick scrub as though by magic. To-morrow much is hoped for from an expedition to be made against the insurgents by the Canola tribes, assisted by the soldiers. Everything remains quiet in all parts of the island except the scene of the revolt, and there operations are circumscribed to a very small area. An attack, organised yesterday, resulted in the destruction of villages only, the natives fleeing amongst the mountains. Many people express surprise that more is not yet achieved against the insurgents ; not so those who come from the scene of action, and are well acquainted with the country and its black population. Those who are better informed know that the tedious process of starvation and employing black against black must be the means depended upon for the reduction of this handful of agile devils, who leap from rock to rook, dive ] into the friendly covering of the thick tangled brush by paths known only to themselves, o.r disappear in numerous ravines worn in mountain sides by rains. The latest despatch, dated loth July, says an ambuscade succeeded against the revolting tribes, killed the son of a chief and several others, and burned and destroyed in the last day or two 20 more villages. : Yesterday some natives, bearing the tricolor Hag, came in and ottered their ser- ! vicos to, the Oovernment at the camp at Yaulapari. At .liouril two tribes of natives are fighting among themselves, and aeveral have been killed.