ARRIVAL OF FRENCH COMMUNISTS AND CONVICTS AT ONEHUNGA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1193, 19 February 1880, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF FRENCH COMMUNISTS AND CONVICTS AT ONEHUNGA.

A BCROovnsH named the Griffin arrived at the .Vinnukau on Tuesday morning, bringing 25 amnestied L'omrauni-t-, at their own request, to New Zealand. 'I he fchooner is chartered by the French •ove>urnent, and the passage of the conviots defrayed by France. We ta e the following from the Herald:-" Ihe French authorities at N oumea having made arrangement* with the owne- of the schooner Griffin to take them to Auckland, the vessel was fifed up at* required by the captain of the port, and a guarantee having been given to the owner of the Griffin that everything waß right, they were marched on board by a party of gendarmes. In consequence of the recent escapes of prisoners, the utmost vigilance was observed ; the CoramunintH were called aft to answer to their names and numbers; the crew were ordered forwaid and the ve-sel thoroughly searched. No communication was permitted with the schooner after that ceremony, <tnd the gendarmes remained on board until the vessel put to »ea and discharged her pilot. 'I he Griffin sailed on the 17ih j January for Auckland, with some 25 Communists on board, inoluding female relatives of the party. Of the detachment 11 are puiitical deportes, and the balance have been offenders against the criminal code, all are called Comtnuuists, and the offences committed by nome of the party, other than taking service with the Commune, were committed during the i time that Paris was held by that extraordinary organisation. In the first divi-ior. are MsHsieurs \uuruste Hocquard, lbiu Vilval, Cuillaux, Hugenin, Henri, Flessis, Laurident, Whetpel • Belgian), Kayer, Picard, and another man whose name we could not ascertain. Accompanying the u e were Madan_e Vilval and child, and Mademoiselles Caillaux. In the lat er division were Pourvally, Melin, Leoa, Gneguier, Pari»ne, Dupremont, Perrot, Bedue, and Bajome.