NEWS FROM NEW CALEDONIA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 829, 10 December 1878, Page 2

NEWS FROM NEW CALEDONIA.

[FROM OTJR AUCKLAND CORRESPONDENT.] 4-UCKI,an t d, December 9. The Sydney Morning Herald gives the following news from New Caledonia : November 28. One of the best affairs occurred on the 10th at a place near Doging, where first the rebels took action. Here a party of " Eclaircuas " (Volunteers), under the charge of Sureivill and Bornueux, formed an ambush for the natives. On they came, little dreaming of the welcome that awaited them. Now, they draw nearone hundred yards-and still innocent of all that awaited' 'them; fifty yarlls—twenty—ten, when the "-word was given, and the rifles vomited forth their deadly charge. Six foes succumbed, and others were" soon lost to sight in the interminable wood, leaving their dead where they dropped. During a late expedition made by a corporal and ten soldiers (infantry marine) in search for rebels, they found near to Boulla a new village audaciously built on the site of an old and early destroyed ono. Not a single native was seen during the reconnaissance until their rotiu'n to the post after burning the new buildings. The small band then found themselves surrounded by 150 to 200 Kanakas, who hoped to destroy them. However, the superior ' arms arid discipline gave an advantage to the handful of soldiers, and they 'beat off the blacks,, with np loss to themselves, inflicting death and wounds upon their assailants. November 21. Again has over-confidence in the black demons who people this island been a snare to threo small coasters engaged to carry provisions and ammunition to the military force under command of Colonel Hendling, operating against the rebels north of ~fis,yji Adie ; etc. Amongst eleven men composing the three crews was a man named Marcane, whose son was killed and

massacred with Monsieur Handallies. He seemed, in spite of the loss of his son, to have scorned the idea that the blacks would do anything against him. It is stated that he was warned not to go on shore, and to keep a strict look out. Both cautions seemed to have been neglected. Then the lamentable fact remains to be : told that the expected provisions not arriving, search was made, and at the mouth of the Poyr river, one pillaged j boat was found, and traces of a sanguinary fight evidenced by the broken oars found, with native hair adhering to them, on the borders. Hidden away in the scrub were found the provisions mutilated, and, oh ! six native baskets filled with freshly cooked human flesh, from which the bones were extracted. Two thousand rounds of Chassepot rifle cartridges fell into the rebels' hands, and these they played against boats of the war steamer Lamothepiqutas while they were searching the river on the lGth.