The New Hebrides War

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1110, 4 October 1904, Page 3

The New Hebrides War

Full Particulars

Simple Bepniny and Fatal Sequel

Press Association.—Copyright, BroN»Y. this oV

AcuoRWNK to a letter written by ' Captain Gaspard, a rcsidont of Now Hebrides, lo the La France Australian, tho recent, tribal war botween the coastal and bush tribes originated through a vory small lin'stinderslanding. Some of the natives near the Presbytoritm mission station hart organised a foast and invited tho bush natives, and the Wucr discovered to their dismay a few days later that tfco yams had been cooked in a utensil forineily used (or rousting pigs. Tlioy regarded this as an outrage, and took revenge for the insult. What eventually took placo is not dofinitely known, but Captain Gaspard says that the Rev Mr Maekonzic, principal of the mission nt Santo, upon learning of the murders, summoned tho warriors of tho bush tribo to appear boforo him, and assured them they need not fear harm. On tho other hand it is said that tho bushmen had boon given to understand that if they fnihl to obey tho summons information respecting tho murdors would bo furnished to tho British authorities, and that tbo result would bo a visit from a warship. Tho bush tribo were alarmed at tho threatened visit of tho warship, and decided to approach Mr, MacKcnzie. According to uncorroborated reports somo of the natives told Captain Gaspard that- they wero required on arrival at the door of the mission house to lay down their firearms and other watlike weapons. It is tether alleged by the natives that no sooner had the warriors of tho bush entered the verandah than they were attacked with clubs and tomahawks by some of the natives at tho mission, and that 13 bushmon were slaughtered. This is an ex-pnvto statement by a black who was concerned in tho first murder.