NEW CALEDONIA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 199, 26 August 1874, Page 2

NEW CALEDONIA.

FIVE DUELS IN ONE DAY. SCUFFLE BETWEEN ENGLISH AND FRENCH. The following extract (says the Pilot) is from a letter addressed to a resident of Newcastle by a friend at Noumea, New Caledonia. The letter is dated July 15, 1874: —“We have had no less than five duels here in one day. The first was between two mounted troopers with swords, and resulted fatally, one of the combatants being run through the neck, expired shortly afterwards. The others were all with pistols, and the results were not serious.

There was also a very large fire at the Government stores to-day. The military were all called out for the purpose it appeared of compelling all who were in the neighborhood of the fire to assist in extinguishing the flames. One English digger who was there was walking away from the fire when a French soldier ordered him back. The Engishman refused with great determinaton, and the Frenchman struck him with the flat of his sabre. The Englishman thereupon rushed upon his adversary, whom he immediately deprived of his sword, and gave him a good thrashing. Six or seven French troopers, sword in hand, attempted to arrest the Britisher, when two more Englishmen arrived, and a general fight ensued, which was quelled with some difficulty by a number of the troops.”