WALLIS ISLAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1038, 30 January 1911, Page 5

WALLIS ISLAND.

. <. ] 'THE PRIESTS AND THE NATIVES. ,| By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrisht "■ Sydney, January 28. The Rev. Father Chevrevil, procurator of tho Marist Brothers' mission in tho South Seas,. states that tho Governor, of New Caledonia visited "Wallis Island to investigate tho charges of clerical intolerance; Ho afterwards condemned the; Commissioners' action and eulogised the work of the missionaries. Against this tho assertions of anonymous officers of an 'unnamed little inter-island steamer wero of no weight. , The fact was, added Father Chevrovil, that the King and his Ministers enactcd eomo stringent laws protecting commercial interests and tho honour of women against adventurers. Tho statement that the natives had to kneel priests passed by was absolutely' untrue. ' The custom of kneeling to chiefs was extended as a mark of respect to'priests, who wero considered as chiefs.

The statement that natives seized opportunities, to run away was- untrue.They wero always of a roving disposition, they wore freo to travel, and frequently did so: Mostly, howoyer, they return to the island. [Dr. Brochard, French Commissioner at \Valli9 Island, stated:—"Tho natives somo time ago ordered- tho priests—five in .number—to leave. They (the priests) took no notice, but imported rifles and ammunition, and distributed them among the friendly natives. They deposed tho king and appointed a king of their own choice. Tho priests have been getting most of tho money for tho copra, tho natives doing all the work. Tho priests mado tho natives build houses and churches, without nay." ' Tho Commissioner announced his intention of placing tho matter before tho French authorities at Noumea.]