BRITISH NEW GUINEA.

Feilding Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 158, 6 January 1903, Page 2

BRITISH NEW GUINEA.

The annual report of the Lieut. - Governor brought up to date of June BOth, 1901, has just been published and lies before us. It weighs 2|lb, and contains, besides photographic and statistical information, enough tales of adventure, daring escapes, and native outrages as would furnish a basis for an exciting library of fiction. The details of the murder of the pioneer missionary Chalmers and his party, also of certain mining prospectors, are now ancient history which we pass over with only the remark that all the accounts are derived from dry official correspondence, entirely devoid of embroidery or embellishments. As one of our townsmen, Mr C. A. W. Monckton, has been largely assisting in making history in that country,, we propose to extract from the report and its attached correspondence items of interest to us all respecting his doings in the North Eastern Division, of which he is senior R.M. Quoting from His Excellency's report he says : " This new division was established in April, 1900, with a view to more effectively controlling the outlying parts of the northern and eastern districts, which, owing to their size, could not receive proper attention in the vicinity of their common boundary. Since Mr Monckton was left on the peninsula at Cape Nelson, the attitude of the natives, who were still in the first stages of barbarism, has undergone a remarkable change. Instead of holding themselves aloof in sullen silence or yelling defiance from the hill tops, they now flock down to the station in crowds to sell food or out of friendly curiosity, and the sight of the s.B. Merrie England no longer fills them with suspicious dread. The district from north to "south extends from Cape Endaiedere to the head of the Goodenough Bay. There is a great diversity between the tribes inhabiting this length of coastline. The types comprise a number of sub-tribal septs, speaking as many different dialects. Mr Monckton has very successfully brought the majority of this mixed population under the influence of the Government in the first place, and in the second has succeeded in creating friendly feelings between many communities who were hitherto antagonistic." Extract from Governor's despatch of 20th March, 1901. —We left Samarai on 22nd and arrived at Cape Nelson on 23rd. Mr Monckton was away in Collingwood Bay, but arrived in the evening. His new house is finished, and is a good and comfortable one, beautifully situated on a prominence with a lovely view ef the sea. The Judge held a Court for the trial of an European named Peter Dowell, who had been guilty of grossly illtreating his native boys. He was convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment with hard labor. Mr Monckton had with him several of the Maisine tribe, who had been giving him a great deal of trouble lately. They were the bullies and terror of the weaker tribes about Collingwood Bay, but are now quite quiet. At Tupi I took advantage of there being a large number of natives present from various parts, to speak to them and remind them of the difference between this and a year ago when I left Mr Monckton and his little force among them at Phillips' Harbour. The following day we went to Philips' Harbour. The natives of this Tpart had lately fought Mr Monckton, and their chief Bogege was in prison at Cape Nelson. We then went to the principal village of the Maisine. They are still in fear of the dreaded Doriri, and were very glad the Government were going after them. They will be employed as carriers. It is woll to mention that these same Doriri were the only check on these murderous bullies of the whole bay, who relentlessly harried everyone else, and even decided to try conclusions with the Government by challenging Mr Monckton, who defeated them most promptly. I must do them the justice to say that nothing could exceed their hearty reception of us ; they rushed into the water to drag the boat ashore, welcoming with much shouting and handling both Mr Monckton and Captain Barton. The next morning I gave Mr Monckton and Captain Barton their official instructions with regard to the expedition against the Doriri, and left them, arranging to come back in about eight weeks for Captain Barton and his men. Here follows official instructions to Mr Monckton to take ten of his fifteen police, and with Captain Barton and another ten to explore to the upper waters of the Musa river, and dis- , cover where the villages of the j Doriri exist, to ascertain which members of the tribe were responsible for recent murders and outrages, to arrest them, and to take such steps as they found necessary to bring the tribe into submission and friendly intercourse. This, which appears a rather large order for two white men with 20 natives, was carried out, and in a future issue we will give a short abstract from the official reports of their several weeks' expedition into an unknown country, where resided the bravest and most blood-thirsty of the aborigines.