THE FRENCH AND THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1918, 18 February 1885, Page 2

THE FRENCH AND THE NEW HEBRIDES.

The Bishop of Melanesia believes that the native feeling in New Hebrides is strongly averse to French control. "Here is an instance to the point," he says. "In Opa there lives a Frenchman i)|med Peter. He is a well-known trader aiid'cnjpys the ii)qat friendly relationship with Guequ, the leading native, Peter is liked by all arid trusted mpre thoroughly. He has a small trading cuttor, and, as his own anchorage is exposed to the weather, some time ago he wanted to purchase a small boat harbor in the neighborhood of lus home; and the natives actually refused to sell it him. They said ho wanted it for the French." Bishop Selwyn can only apeak positively about tho Btate of affairs in Opa, Ponticost, and Auroa. These three islands are the only part of the New Hebrides within his diocese. Opa i? one of the most important islands of the groupe, and, with the exception of Sandwich, visit by more traders than any of tho others, " The trade" he says, " consists of men and copra; chiefly of men. It has been carried on principally by Frenchmen, with Noumea. Presbyterian missionaries have never labored thero with much success. The island has always been in a stato of flux and disorder. The labor traffic carries the Natives away, and tho Natives are constantly murdering the Europeans. Injuries are long remembered, and the lapse of a year or two does not heal old wounds. Men aro murdered in cold blood when they least expect it—when tho original quarrel is almost forgotten. I iyas aware the French ships systematically visited the jjlanijj, and of course 1 was noli ignorant of the rumors of annexation, If it be accomplished, judging from French Influence elsewhere, I fear the Protestant mission work will be seriously retarded by official restrictions,"