THE NATIVE TROUBLE AT TAHITI

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 156, 3 July 1888, Page 8

THE NATIVE TROUBLE AT TAHITI

UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION

OF AFFAIRS,

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Papeete, June 13. Matters have been pjetty quiet at the Leeward Islands since the Richmond visited us last ; but the condition of affairs is by no means satisfactory- T ere has been no actual fighting, bub>e rebels are still in the field, and at >aiatea French vessels have shelled the coast, *"* ing several natives, and producing cx as ~ peration among the great body. It is possible that the natives may be pacified by the projected visit of the new French Admiral (Lefevre), who goes there in a day or two. The effect of the recent fighting at Huaheine and llaiatea is seen in the face that business with these islands is almost at a standstill. A correspondent of " Le Messager, Tahiti," writing from Huaheine on 16th May, states that almost the entire Dative population had gone to the hills, where they had a depot of arms and munitions of war. The rebels, to the number of 300, were all armed with guns and ammunition, but to add to their store of projectiles they were melting down meat and fruit tins. The few friendly natives were entirely unarmed, and were becoming disaffected because of the neglect of the French authorities. Despite the threatening aspect of affairs the Governor |announces that "the act of annexation is complete." The warship Decres and a local vessel are at Huaheine. THE FIGHTING AT RAIATEA. From the same paper I take the following particulars of the righting at Raiatea over the attempted annexation :— The rebels, under the chief Terahupo, took tho field, to the number of 600 fighting men. Their camp is at Avera, and. it was the scene of a somewhat serious engagement. The rebels were the aggressors. They opened a well directed fire on the steam launch of the Decres, which was sailing near the opening of the vally. Those on board the launch returned the fire, and the Decres also joined in the engagement which* resulted in one Raiatean being killed and seven wounded. Six of the rebels who ventured to'sea in a pirogue were captured by the Decres and sent on to Papeete. The French subjects aud friendly natives of Raiatea are strongly dissatisfied with the present attitude of inaction maintained by the French authorities, and their only hope is that the new Admiral may do something. All that is done at present is to maintain observation. It is declared that this cannot continue'without injuring, perhaps irremediably, the French colony of Oceania.