A REMARKABLE AND HEROIC ADVENTURE IN NEW GUINEA.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 32, 13 November 1871, Page 3

A REMARKABLE AND HEROIC ADVENTURE IN NEW GUINEA.

The following letter, written by Mr R. M‘Lean, appeared recently in the Argus. The conduct of Mr Minton exhibited true heroism, and it is to bo hoped he survives and may yet reach his friends : “ Sir —Being a stranger in the colonies, I have no other way of informing Mr Minton’s friends of his probable death, except through the medium of your paper. I understood he was the son of the late Captain Minton of Melbourne. We took Mr Minton from the Mill’s Group of Islands, where he had been some months, the vessel he was in having disappeared during a storm that arose during the night, when Mr Minton and one of his men were left on shore. The other man died from fever after a prolonged illness. We were going on to the Solomon Group of Islands and Papua We anchored of Papua. In a short time dozens of canoes came out to us, of very large size. Mr Minton would persist in going ashore in one of them. He left, and appeared to have arrived safe. They welcomed him. By-and-by he went into the bush with the crowd. After some time lie came to the beach, and put a white handkerchief on a pole ; so I put off. On coming near, he called out to me not to come to close —so iat the boat should not touch the beach—as he had no faith in them. I therefore leaped out some ten or twelve yards from tl i beach and waded through the water. Ti e chief welcomed me. He wished to know if Mr Minton was chief or captain. I made him understand the captain was on board the vessel. However, I went up to the village with him and Mr Minton. I was very much astonished to sec no women, and about 800 or 1,000 men, some sitting and some standing, all armed. I remarked the same to Mr Minton. He made answer, and said “ I see our danger. I will get you out of the trap, but I (Mr Minton) must bear tlie brunt of the consequences.” He then desired me to go on board the boat without delay, as he could notice that their hospitality was forced. I believe he was, and is, if alive, a great discriminator of native character. He said it appeared to him that they had some project in view—words which were only too true. He made signs to the chief that I was going to bring the captain. He bid ine good bye, and said he knew well his end, but that some of them would kiss mother earth before they killed him. He also desired me to mention his fa x e, and gave me his name, stating he was the son of Captain Minton, of Melbourne. I got safe on board. After stating to the captain the affair, he was much grieved, and we were deteimined to watch. Mr Minton was well armed, having a breechloader, revolver, and bowic knife. He si rolled slowly down the beach for some distance, now and then stopping and looking towards the bush. Two or three hours elapsed. Mr Minton turned to come back, walking very slowly', when we saw a native emerge from the bush, and make rapid strides towards him. When nearing him, he raised his hand, in which he held a spear, having a tomahawk in his left hand. As he did so, Mr Minton as quickly turned, and shot him dead. In one moment hundreds were pouring towards him from the bush, which appeared not to have a living thing there, showing that it was all premediated. He quickly loaded and shot another. Hundreds of spears were thrown at him. He shot three natives with the gun breach-loader, and five with his revolver. He then made a rush with his knife, and stabbed two of them. They did not close in on him. T" ) were lying on the ground, and he had time to load his gun, which we saw him in the act of doing, when a spear pierced him and he fell. They were on him on his trying to rise, and struck him down with a club. We saw the chief come down, and take him away. They led him up opposite the ship, and we put off. All his clothes were torn off him. When we got near enough we held up a lot of arms and cloth, and made signs for the chief to send him back, but lie took uo notice. 1 was much surprised at the cool, self-col-lected, and calm manner under such trying and truly horrible circumstances of the position in which lie was placed. But I was not surprised after the heroic and determined stand he made against hundreds of natives, whose spears were flying over, around, and about him. At last he was struck down. 1 firmly believe the chief interfered, in consequence of his great personal courage, for they admire anything of that kind. We offered a quantity of guns, swords, and red cloth for him but the chief took no notice. Mr. Minton waved his hand to us. The natives brought no more produce of any kind to trade. We left, graved and pained to think what may the fate of such a man. While with us lie was most courteous, genial, and social; all on board liked and respected him. He was taller than any of the natives around, being 6ft., and well made in proportion. They may make an under chief of him. We proceeded on to New Caledonia. 1 left the vessel there to go to the diggings. Loft there shortly after to go to Gulgong. While here 1 thought I might write you an account, acaccording to his wishes, in case Captain Mastcrton of the loin brig failed to have done so. Mr. Minton might yet come safe to his friends. May God send aud will it,

GERMANY AFTER THE WAR.. The Economist gives the following description of the effect of the late war on German industry which cannot but bo interesting to our readers. It is only in such descriptions that we can perceive the fall loss to Germany from her* military system, which in time of war withdraws the strength of the war from industrial pursuits :—“ The war has not only interrupted work, but has destroyed thousands of places of work. The four million thalers, which are to be spent for the assistance of those who have suffered loss, are as a drop on a hot stone, which, hissing, drops on to it, and in an instant disappears in smoke. Thousands of men of the Landwher and Reserve return to their homes crowned with victory and covered with wreaths, but they find their dwellings destitute, their wives m want, their children neglected, their workshops destroyed, their customers dispersed, their credit shaken, and the want of their manufacture lessened. Their rent is still due, which has accumulated for a year. Now tools have to he bought, which their wives in time of distress have either pawned or sold. Materials have to bo laid in stock, to enable them, in case of an order being given, to begin work. Repairs and clothes are necessary’. The butchers, bakers, and retailers have got to be paid. If work is not begun at once, the cry of distress will soon be distinctly heard as the echo of rejoicing All our small trades are founded on the credit allowed them by the great dealers. They never pay ready money but by a bill of exchange, which delays the payment until their goods are sold. The diminished supplies of the war year have increased the small hills to enormous sums. As long as the owner of the business was in the fields the hills were prolonged. When they return home the bills have to be taken up if they wish to begin work again, and their distress becomes greater as they are obliged to begin again with renewed vigor. The French idemnity will not compensate the private losses of Germany'. The payment of it will impoverish the customers of Germany’, and German industry will gain nothing directly’, becauso the money will be largely’ used in replacing munitions of war, and otherwise, assisting warlike operations. The German triumph is thus far from unalloyed, and as France has suffered far more it would he diilicult indeed to measure the nett suffering of the two belligerents.