News from New Caledonia.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3229, 25 June 1879, Page 2

News from New Caledonia.

Commodore "Wilson and Me "Mystery" Murderers, i Restitution Demanded. Noumea, June 13. ; H.M. schooner Conflict arrived on the sth from Aota, or Lepper's Island, the scene of the Mystery. Massacre .reported some months ago." > I

The : Wolverine, Commodore , Wilsoii, has visited the charming island, and invited the chiefs to deliver up the murderer. They said they would see the Commodore, hanged first. However, when an ■■ armed company of sailors and; marines were landed in full strength 'things began to look serious for the. chiefs.,, and their children, who seemed much inclined to show fight. .The chief demande)! a parley, and a deputation from each, of the threatening parties advanced with a.space between them. The parley. resulie.djinjthiß delivery of the asserted murderer's to the Commodore, and. the payment by the chief of twentyfive ;pigs, which in'native 41 currency " is equal to killing five meno'r twenty-five women, the scoundrels valuing as many as five pigs for the life of dnp man and but one for that of a woman. In connection with the murdering of thfe Mystery's boat's crew a dreadful inciden|t has come to light. One of the four South Sea Islanders escaped into the bush, and for-months he was sought in vain. Nothing was ever seen of him until; the day after his death through starvation and the suffering caused by one of, his hands being chopped off. Imagine a human creature existing in such a horrible plight. '•■" *■ ■' •■ - ■■' ;■>':•'..'■■ !.