NEW HEBRIDES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 19, 23 January 1903, Page 2

NEW HEBRIDES.

A FRESByrERIAN MINISTERS VIE WB. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. SYDNEf, January 22. Dr. Paton, the Presbyterian missionary io the New Hebrides, is visiting Sydney. Ho speaks hopefully of the mission work in the New Hebrides,

Dr. Paton says that sine* the appointment of Bn Anglo-French commissioD, much of the friction that formerly existed, has been swfpt away. Disputes are now se'tl-d with a degree of authority which commands reap ct and spreads confidence. Ti.o change means a large commercial gain to ihe traders and settlers in the islands, who, however, are strongly in favour of annexation by B.itain, and hope that it may still be brought about. He considers that the tew setiers who have recently armed from Australia, have good prospers for the future; with patience they should do Wtll.

Ihe great evi l , says Dr. Paton, is the Hradiog iu firtarms, which is carried to Ikraeutablo degree amongst the nativ, s. Just before he hft, the wp'ain of a F.enchschooner, while landing the body uf an Islaoder who died aboard, was shot deid, and two of his crew we.-e bidly woucded.

Some parts of the islands are suffering sever, ly from drought. A fet/ler at Epi has given an account of c!.e Id tapping of three of his native boys b/ au armed party of Frenchmen. The boys had run away from French settl is, owing to ill-usige. D-. Paton alleges that the French I ire allowed to buy and sell native for a term of years, He gives an instance where natives were wbipp;d and treated like slave*. He appeals to the authoritus, through the Press, to set the enslaved boys at liberty.