SENSATION IN NEW GUINEA.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 148, 23 June 1904, Page 5

SENSATION IN NEW GUINEA.

f DEATH OF A JUDICIAL OFFICER. fllT TKLKOHAPH— PIIESB ASSOCIATION.] THURSDAY ISLAND, 22nd June. Tho fitcamer C'hinn biing« nc«.s thut Judge Kubnibon, who was the ActingAdmuiistiator at New Guinea, shot himhelf, and died in twenty minutci. Nu particulars aro to hand. Deceased was v now of Archdeacon Robins>on, of Now Zealand. Later news slates that Cap.tain Barton, who was investigating the lato Merrio England affray with the Qoambasi natives, discovered Mr. Robinson on Sunday near his residence with a bullet wound in bis head, and a rovolvcr at his hide. He died in fifteen minutes, without speaking. It is believed Air. Robinson loft a wiitten statement regarding the Merrio England affray. Captain Barton stiU.es that when be was conversing with Mr. Robinson some time previous to tho fatality, deceased appeared to be in good spirits. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE FEDERAL MINISTER. MELBOURNE, This Day. Tho Hon. W. M. Hughes, Minister for External Affairs, hus received ii message from Captnin Barton announcing Judgo Robinson's suicide, and stating that arrangements had been completed for Mr. Robinson and other witnesses in tho Mcrrie England affair to leave on the duy of his dentil. Ho adds that no native witnoises were sent, as Mr. Robinson had informed him that he did not require their cviderico. Sir Edmund Barton expects to leavo for Thursday Island on the 27th, to commence tho enquiry, if it is not cancelled, on Iho Bth July. Mr. Hughes stated that Cabinet would to-d«y considor whether it would cancul the enquiry. Ho expressed regret at what had happened. The Merrio England was sent ro Now Guinea to m«ke investigations regarding tho murders of the Revs. Chalmers and Tomkins in April. 1901. It, i 8i 8 allogod that the natives wore invited on boaul, and that while they wero boarding tho rttwimer nino or ten of thorn were seized and roughly handled. The remainder took fright and jumped overboard, and thoso in the canoes attempted to escape. Tho police on board Iho Merrio England commenced firing, and il is reported that many natives were killed. Much indignation was caused, and an investigation was ordered. A correspondent, "J.H.," wiites expissing high appieciation of the musical treat provided at tho Hamilton Hodges's recitals last week, bnt strongly piotontwj> against the cloak-room arrangements on tho tirst night and the eontiolof the ».eating on the second. The sceuo on Thui&day night nt tho close of tho perfotmance, when about three hundred persons struggled to gain access to the cloak-room, and thence by the same rlooiway to tho very small hall-way, hu dcclnrcs beugaiß description. On" the Friday night our correspondent, and govern I others, all holding tickets for leserved seats, had to stand dining the peifonnnnco bcctuiNo (heir seals nere taken by ollieis, and theio was no usher to ho found. The writer hope.s t?ict tho iiumftgement of future entertainment. 1 * in the Sydney-street Hall will bo mote satisfactory. Another coi respondent t\l->o -vrrit.es condemning tlic seating uuaugeincuts,