THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 210, 4 September 1900, Page 5

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FRENCH COLONISTS.

The subject of British and French interests in the New Hebrides was brought under Sir William Lyne's notice at Sydney by representatives of the Presbyterian Assembly. In a memorial handed to the Premier the matter to be related was described as "the unjust and oppressive treatment of natives in the New Hebrides by the French colonists." Amongst other things, this memorial, in stating the case of the deputation, said: ""On the Island of Kpl matters have now reached a condition that is simply intolerable. Land in varying sized "lots along the shore has been acquired from time to time by the French New Hebrides Company. These pieces of land, according to the unanimous testimony of the vendors, in all cases were strictly coast lands, and did not extend far inland. "It now appears that for the purpose of making a French settlement, a plan of the French Company's property on Epi has been prepared, showing the situation and extent of the said pi-operty as divided into allotments. The plan is secret, and no British subject is supposed to see it. This secret plan discloses the astonishing fact that the claim of the French company includes the whole west coast of Epi from the foreland to and inclusive of Lamenu Point, excepting the property of the late G. Facio and M. Blano, and stretching inland to a uniform depth of nearly three miles, the back boundary running parallel to the coast. "This area includes whole inland villages, which have never had any dealings with the French Company. That this claim is wrong as regards the coast line is proved by the fact, that last year Messrs Swallow and Trumble purchased from the natives and settled on a piece of this land claimed by the French company, and though loudly threatened b}r the French agent were in no way interfered with by tile French man-o'-war when it called . On the contrary, the French Company's agent has discovered the existence of some German property within this area on tne coast.

"In bringing these few facts under the notice of the proper authorities, the Synod would lay stress upon tne fact that the French colonists dare not act in this high-handed and wicked manner on a heathen island, but only on such an island a-s Epi, Where the influence of the British missionaries restrains the natives from retaliating upon their oppressors and sweeping them off the face of the earth. The Synod has all the greater hope, therefore, that this matter will be thoroughly investigated, and the offenders brought'to justice." Sir William Lyne, m the course of his reply, said it appeared" to him,: from the statements placed before him, that there was one course whicn the Government could take, and that was, if the admiral had not power to act 'to make representations to the Imperial Government. Such representations would probably be in the direction of the establishment of a commission having authority to deal with all disputes that might arise. He would take action at once, but of course in a temperate way. He had not been appealed to before, although he noticed a similar request had been made to the yictorian Government; However he would now ask the Imperial Government to take • steps to prevent a repetition of what had taken place in the past. He did not wish to use language that would m anyway irritate the French. There Was in his possession certain information which showed what was going on in the New Hebrides. In consequence he had made arrangements for closer trade relations between the islands and New South Wales. A line of steamers would in .future sail every month, instead of every two months, as in the past. The . first steamer under the new arrangement left on August 1, and the trips would win on the first of each month. This, he thought, would help matters con•iflenblv One reason which actuated him in taking this step was the fact that large subsidies were paid by the French and German Governments to encourage the trade of the South Sea Islands.