The New Britain Massacre

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1092, 13 September 1904, Page 3

The New Britain Massacre

Alleyetl Cause

Reporled Floaglng of Native Leader

The Charge Denied

Mission lo be Re-established

Freu In nela*ion.--rwitlltM Brisiiank, this day Father Limbs, head of tho Catholic Mission at Herbortshoho, who arrived by tho Gorman stcamor, denios tho statement that Toman threatened wngewwe because he was Hogged by order of the missionaries for putting away his native wife and taking another. Ho attributes tho trouble largely to the fact that tho slavo-holding propensity of tho coast natives have boen intorforoil with, and that thoy are more virile than the bush natives, whom they captured and compelled to work on tho plantations. The missionaries, with the assistance ol the German authorities, secured tho liberation of thesb slaves and sottled them in villages noar tho missions, Tho freed slaves woro given land and allowed to marry and miko homes, Tho feeling against tho whites was not oonGnodloono district, but was general. Tho Datives objocted to their lands being Aspocial caujo of complaint was the practico of flogging the natives for various offences.

Tho Government officer did the llog> ping work. The missionaries, ho thinks, will only suffor temporary interruption. A'cablo has already been sont to dan many to replace the workers mnssaorcf mid as soon m tho punishment of the jQUrdovors is completed tho station will again bo oocupiod. He status that the nativo mission look BO part in tho massacre, Some tried to defond the missionaries and failing to do so gave tho alarm. Father Vandca arrived shortly after the murders, and tho murdorors threatened him w'th axes. On tho following day he took the na'.ivo police to the scene, and tho work of punishment was begun. Fathor Linkins declines that tho natives are undoubtedly cannibal*, though they '' mado no attempt to oat the bodies of the missionaries,