ISLAND NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 195, 26 November 1910, Page 5

ISLAND NEWS.

DR. NICHOLSON'S ALLEGATIONS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, November 25. The warship Pegasus has returned from a visit to the Islands. At one of the ports visited the British Commissioner held a convention of native chiefs from all parts, and discussed their grievances. Upwards of four hundred natives attended, and it was the most representative gathering of tribal clans ever held. A big feast followed, with festivities lasting a week. The Pegasus visited a number of uninhabited islands, the homes of millions of sea birds. One of the officers of the Pegasus, commenting on Dr. Nicholson's statement regarding the failure of the AngloFrench Commission in the New Hebrides, declared that no complaints were made when the Pegasus was in the islands. So far as he could see, the Commission was working satisfactorily. A little trouble occasionally rose in Tanna over recruiting, but it would be absurd to compare "it with the old blackbirding days. Recruiting was practically confined to Tanna. As regards Banks Islands, some of those on board the Pegasus were of opinion that there were good grounds for the Bisnop of Melanesia's statement that the selling of grog and the kidnapping and ill-treatment "of natives were rife there.