NEW GUINEA. (Special Correspondence of Auckland Star.)

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 135, 2 January 1886, Page 6

NEW GUINEA. (Special Correspondence of Auckland Star. )

Mabuiag, Torres Strait, November 2, 1885. Inspection of Missions. I am now returning from a visitation of all our mission stations in the Papuan Gulf, from the Fly to the Baxter Rivers, and take the first opportunity of forwarding to you such information as I have been able to gather concerning the Expedition of the Geographical Society of Australasia, which I conducted thirty miles up the Fly River a few months ago, and introduced to the people o£ Kaiwai and Sumaiut. I have felt deeply interested in the Expedition, not only on account of the objects contemplated, but also from my personal knowledge of the men, whose company we enjoyed for several days in the river. They were, as far as I could judge, a splendid set of fellows for such an enterprise, and well equipped. On entwilng the JJTy we mado our way to Port Spicer, where we found 58 canoes on the beach and a temporary settlement of some 500 natives—men, women, and children, which gave a lively appearance to the ordinary quiet island of Mibu. The natives were from Kiwai. Several canoes came off to us when we anchored, some of the natives wearing clothing, and informed us that all the teachers were well, and said that they knew nothing of the members of the expedition. After visiting the camp, and walking a couple of miles along the beautiful beach, we returned to the Mary, and next morning started for Kiwai. We were met on the beach by the two teacher?, j their wives, and a crowd of natives, amongst | whom were many women and children, showing that they were not, as on our previous visit, afraid of up. The whole popu lation has returned to the village, and two new houses, each 308 ft. long, are being built The old chief, Durnba, was sitting on the steps of his house, as on our last visit, without a ragon him, although Mr Douglas on that occasion presented him with a suit of clothes. He was coming up to the mission house in that condition, when the teacher advised him to don the suit, which is evidently kept for special occasions - a piece of advice that he readily accepted, probably feeling that his visit would be more successful if made in that identical suit. Buni, the chief from the village on the opposite side of the creek, soon made his appearance ; he is one of the teachers' best friends. I had a long talk with them and the leading people of Kiwai, through the teacher. They say that they now regard the teachers as Kiwai men, and no longer as strangers, and of course declared to me their intention to live peace ably in future. We called at Bramble Bay on our way to the Fly, and during the night caught five fine turtle, two of which we gave to the teachers and people of Kiwai, which greatly added to our popularity, you may be sure.

The Geographical Expedition. Now, about the members of the Geographical Expedition. I had not been on shore at Kiwai very long, when, to my great surprise, Keroße, the chief of Sumaiut, walked into the house, looking very, different from what he did when we last saw him at Sumaiut, the day before he started with the Expedition up the river. When I asked him why he was naked again, he replied that he had left his clothes at Sumaiut. I at once inquired about the Expedition, and through the teacher got his account of their doings. It seems that after we left them at Sumaiut, Korose, Atai, and Marai decided to accompany the Expedition, much to the delight of Captain Everill. Korose states that he was with them three months, and returned on the fourth, having left them at the head of the river, the steamer high and dry amongst the bushes, with, as he describes, the masts amongst the trees. They were forming a depdt there, and Korose and his friends helped them to build the housos, after which the captain informed' them that they, were short of food, and that they (the three natives) had better return to their village in the canoe. The white men, he states, were living on cassowaries, kangaroos, and birds which they shot. He also states that the Natives attacked them in large numbers at the entrance of the arm of the river, which they ascended, and'that many of the Natives were shot; also ,that the Natives were aboui to make a united* attack on the party from all sides, /when he left. This is ,the substance, of'Korose's statement; but I am sorry to-say, that L know part, of it at J least to be^ntrjie. I. find that he,was not absent from his village a forfcnighivand I noticed that he was very

ranxiovmto) know if we intended 1 going, to *- gum|iiij^knd wlien he|ounafj:hat w©|nqtK only intended to go tHere'bufinght round , * {Kiwai, ho started atfpnce,;<aayin£C tha^Ke" was going to ; jprepafef6r bur arrival.- What thatpreparation "raight be $ leave, you to judge from what I have yet to state. Both teachers afad people at Kiwai seem-to know nothing about the, expedition beyond^the ' above.. " When at the mouth of the, Baxter River I. learnt that Captain Strachan and party had been to our mission station, there, taken the chief with them, and proceeded to the westward of the Baxter. There are two parties of cedar-cutters near the Fly, and a 500 ton barque loading with that timber, which abounds in the vicinity. ' Neither General Scratchley nor any man- of -war has yet visited this part of Now Guinea.- Our teachers are all well, and our mission stations in as prosperous a condition as we can reasonably expect. W e have just held our second anniversary missionary meetings in this branch of our mission (the western branch). We commenced last.year, when the collec--tion amounted to £45. This year it amounts to £64. Such a sum from such [a people tells its own tale. Natives, as & rule, are ready enough to receive, but the gospel must have considerable influence over them before they are prepared to give much. Two new missionaries have arrived, and entered heartily into the work; one, the. Rev. C. B. Savage, is with me this trip. - He is appointed to assist in the Papuan Intitute at our central station, Murrays Island. S. McFarlane, J.P.