NEW GUINEA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18924, 12 February 1927, Page 11

NEW GUINEA.

DIFFICULTIES WITH NATIVES. ATTACKS ON MINING PARTIES. (rROM OUR OWK COBBESPOKDEKT.) SYDNEY, January 27. The discovery of the rich Edie Creek gclcifield in tho Bulolo district of the mandated territory of New Guinea has led to difficulties with the nativesPrevious attacks by natives on mining parties .have been reported, and recently two more have occurred, followed by the activity of armed expeditions' tb maintain order. The hostility of the natives has evidently been provoked by the intrusion on their territory of white miners and native carriers from other districts. Tho arduous journey from Salamoa Bay to the Edie Creek field has been made mora difficult by these natives' hostility. Reports received bv the Minister for Homo and Territories from the Administration at Rabaul indicate the nature cf the attacks. A party of native carriers was attacked by hostile tribes on the road to the goldheld, and three of the carriers were killed. A special expedition of five Europeans and 20 natives police, in charge of the warden, was sent t» the area to arrest the murderers and restore and maintain order. Tho expedition arrived at the village of the hostile natives and found it deserted. Later, when the expedition endeavoured to get into touch with the natives, all paths near them were studded with spikes which they had placed in tho ground. The expedition eventually managed to parlev with the natives, who were informed if they handed over the tultul, subthief of the tribe, they would be treated as friends. The natives' answer was to utter cries of defiance and hurl spears and arrows at the expedition. The natives were driven from their stronghold, but later they attacked another party of carriers. Tho armed expedition intervened to protect .the carriers, and the hostile natives were again called upon to surrender their tultul, but again they showed fight, and two of them were .shot. The expedition followed the natives to another village, in which they had taken up a strong position. They stood on a hill and defied tho Government party, inviting it to advance. They acted menacingly, brandishing bows and arrows and spears. Ihc Government party endeavoured to capture the ringleaders, and an affray fa!lowe<l in which the novcrnmetit expedition was compelled to shoot. The tultul and four other natives were killed. A native police boy in the Government party wa» wounded in tho chest by an arrow.