LATER NEWS FROM MEW GUINEA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 283, 21 July 1888, Page 5

LATER NEWS FROM MEW GUINEA.

The Biitish New Guinea Government schooner Hygeia returned from the eastern division of the protectorate on Saturday night, having been absent from this port for a mdnth, cruising in the Louisiacle Archipelago. From Captain Musgrave, Deputy Commissioner of New Guinea, who was a passenger for Cooktown, the followihg particulars have been obtained :— The natives have been quiefa as regards foreigneis of late. and have been working very satisfactorily for white traders at numerous points. Copra is being collected at several villages. On the north coast of Sudesfc Island, the Juanita prospecting party, who are searching tor gold and tin, had just shifted their position to examine the new country when the Hygeia left. The natives had massacred six inhabitants of Biona, and carried off three children, and as a punishment some canoes and cottages were destroyed at the village which was used as the base of operations under the direction of the special commissioner. The kidnapped children were recovered with some difficulty from Bioken Island, and returned by a friendly native interpreter, who had been previously employed in Queensland. Three of Her Majesty's ships of war have assumed dufciep in the waters of the New Guinea protectorate for a season. H.M.s. Opal, commanded by Captain Bosanquet, had sent an oflicer to the Northern division of the Australian station and spent a fortnight at Samari. li. M.s. Swinger had completed her first trip as a debpatch boat between Saman and Cooktown, and it is believed that the Dart had reached Joannefc Island from Sydney. She there resumes her valuable annual surveys for che third season. These not only aftord best geographical information of eastern waters, but produce an excellent effect upon the aboriginals by their constant communication and assistance as eatrieis. Captain Musgrave entertains hopeful views of the future of the tcnitory. The two centres of a growing trade are Granville and Samari, both of which are nearer to Cooktown than Thursday Island and the Gulf of Carpentaiia. Both the Ifygeia and the Harrier will leave for Port Moresby in a few days.