News from New Caledonia.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 173, 9 October 1886, Page 6

News from New Caledonia.

Terrible scenes. Noumea, September 10. Last Sunday evening a lot of New Hebrides natives were having one of their usual tribal battles in the main street of this capital when a policeman interfered, and got half murdered for his trouble. A sailor went to the policeman's rescue, but only to be worse treated. The policeman being again attacked, thought it high time to use his revolver, and shot one native dead, wounding a second in the forehead. This is a delightful commentary on Mon?. de Freycinet'a dictum that the soldiers had been cent to the New Hebrides to protect the whites against the nativea. I am told that an attack by natives on "white men in Havannah Harbour is utterly unknown, whereas the scenea of drunken savagery in Noumea every Sunday evening is a perfect disgrace to a civilised nation. The natives are allowed to have as much liquor aa they can buy ; their savage natures get roused by the drink sold to them, and they start an intertribal fight, and woe to the white man who interferes. Every Monday regularly the papers are filled with complaints of native fights the evening previous, and call on the Government to interfere with a strong hand. By the return of ths Duebaffant from the New Heb-ides, w e have received the significant news of the establishment of a third military post in the islands, at Vila Harbor, on the Island of Sandwi=h. with the intention of forming a township. This does not look much like withdrawing troops. It cannot be for the purpose of protecting the settlers, as the few resident natives are perfectly harmless and peaceful. I think Australians will at leaat recognise that the French have, de facto, taken possession of the islands, and intend to eoay there. — Correspondent of Sydney "Morning Herald.''