ENTRAPPING ENGLISH GIRLS IN NOUMEA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1142, 30 August 1883, Page 1

ENTRAPPING ENGLISH GIRLS IN NOUMEA.

The Noumea correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald wiites to that journal A shameful and disreputable fact has often been commented upon in Noumea, and it is high time it was published far and wide in Sydney, to judge by the following recital made to me to-day. Let the tale, one of many, speak for itself ‘ When lately in Sydney, I accidentally, when in a shop, heard a young lady speak of her sister having gone to Noumea as ‘ companion to a retired lady.’ Making myself known as a resident of Noumea, great delight was expressed at the prospect of hom fide information thence. Ascertaining the name of the place her sister had gone to, I asked and obtained an interview with the mother, the widow of a professional man, who left her and her nine children, chiefly daughters, comparatively in poverty. On the mother learning that the residence of the retired lady was a publichouse of the lowest repute in Nou mea, frequented by classes better imagined than described, whom her daughter would be expected to entertain with her musical talents, the horror of the poor mother may be imagined. The imprudent and unfortunate girl on reaching Noumea was rescued from the infernal trap, in which aim passed but one night, returning by the next vessel to Sydney.” So one case. How have other similar ones ended 1 Some badly, as can be evidenced by the young English mistresses kept here and there in Noumea, for all have not the good fortune to be rescued as some have been by a kind-hearted captain franking them to Sydney, or by generous merchants of the place coming to their aid in one form or other, as in more than one instance of late. Many dreadful tales have been poured into the ears of our consul, and it is high time that the abuse be suppressed by some moans,