THE MARQUIS DE RAY'S NEW COLONY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3756, 11 January 1881, Page 2

THE MARQUIS DE RAY'S NEW COLONY.

The failure attending the Marquis de Ray's first attempt to colonise New Ireland, appears not to hare much affected his determination to push on with his project, for by the arrival of the steamer Genii at this port we learn that the new colony has been at last successfully founded, and everything at the place is going on io the satisfaction of all concerned The mission of the Genii to this port is to procure 3tores, &c, for the new colonists. M. M. Leprovost, the Commander-in-chief of the colony is a passenger by her; so also is M. Lannugel, the chaplin ; and M. Vcdovelly de Castillo, - the civil engineer. The Genii commenced her voyage from Barcelona. She touched at A^den and Singapore, and which .places her passengers heard the fate of the Chandernagore party at Likiliki Bay, and ail the passengers excepting ten abandoned the Genii. Coals and provisions were procured at Singapore, and the Genii went to New Ireland, where she awaited the arrival of the steamship India. Captain Robardy in the meanwhile examined the coast of New Ireland, and decided that both Likiliki Bay and Port Praslyn were unsuitable for the colony. On the arrival of the India on October 14, with 350 settlers, including women and children, it was resolved that the site for the new colony should be Port Breton, on the south-west end of; New Ireland. No time was lost in getting the combined crews of the Genii (s), India (s) and the settlers to work in clearing land for cultivation, building houses, See. About eight acres of land were quickly got in order for the growth of maize, potatoes, yams, and other requirements; five large houses were built, and a building was removed from Likiliki to the new settlement, The largest house was. 150 feet long by 33 feet wide, and the buildings were distributed over about two miles of country. The colonists were comfortably housed, and wore working vigorously up to the time the Genii sailed. They comprise two classes of people—one ia connected with the Marquis de Ray's company, the other consists of-" free settiers. There are two excellent harbora, half-mile apart, named respectively English Cove and Irish Cove. The. anchorage for vessels is deep, and a splendid stream of water flows into each. The formation of roads is proceeding. steadily, and it is proposed to open one to Likiliki, a distance of five miles. Captain Lobardy states a fine fres water stream runs into Likiliki. He spent several hours on it in his boat, and it is navigable for a steam launch for six op seven miles. The India (s.) remains in Irish Cove to await the next consignment of the colonists. Those onshore are said to be in good health and contented - with the prospects of the place.—Sydney Herald. J