ENQUIRY INTO ROCHEFORT'S ESCAPE.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1376, 8 July 1874, Page 2

ENQUIRY INTO ROCHEFORT'S ESCAPE.

ALL COMMUNISTS TO BE REMOVED,

Admiral Eibonrt has arrived from France to inquire into the escape of Rochefort and other Communists by the barque P.C.E. It is intended to remove all Communists from the vicinity of Noumea. Numbers have already been sent to the Isle of Pines without any warning, and every precaution is being taken to prevent further escapes. Another island will alsp be selected for confining Ijhe Communists in addition to the Isle of Pines, so that they will have no communication with shipping whatever. Most probably either Mare or lif on will be used for that purpose. Alterations have been made in the position of the guardship, which formerly lay in the centre of Noumea harbour. ' This has now been removed to the outside of the N. W. entrance, while the man-of-war which is usually in harbour has taken up a position near the S.W. entrance. It is thus impossible for any boat to go out of the harbour without being challenged by one or the other. Any boat not answering promptly to the challenge is fired on at once. On the 26th June a boat belonging -to the steamer Havilah, which was laid up for repairs, was going off to her, and when hailed by the sentry one ©f the crew returned a facetious answer. The joke was like to have cost them dearly, for the gendarme immediately discharged his rifle at the boat. Fortunately no one was damaged, and the officer in charge then gave the countersign All vessels on the point of leaving the harbour are now subjected to a strict search before going away. The-captain of the port, or his lieutenant, puts off to her and goes all over the ship, after which no other boat is allowed to put off to her or leave under the penalty of the vessel's detention, i