ISLAND TROUBLES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 24 January 1914, Page 5

ISLAND TROUBLES.

A FCUTHLII STATEMENT.

IT CABLI-P&ESB ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT,

SYDNEY, Jan. 23. The Rev. McGowan, convenor of the Presbyterian Foreign Missions Committee, has issued a lengthy official state: meilt with reference to the rescue of • the natives during the Ambrym eruption. According to this accoxmt, Dr Bowie, and the party of missionaries who were engaged in the rescue, saw a number-■ of natives on the French steamer La France's boat beckoning to them, and when they approached the boat they were told that the natives were being taken aboard the La France, but were refused information as to where the natives were going. Several natives left the La France's boat and came aboard Dr Bowie's, at his invitation. A French-official and other Frenchmen then interfered and prevented the others from leaving, arid the captain /of the vessel turned the hose on the missionaries. The junior officer of the La France used a bottle, which did duty for a rowlock, to drive the missionaries off.

Dr Bowie said he warned the natives not to go aboard the La France. It is further alleged that the La France was never inside the danger zone, and did not rescue a single native.

Dr Bowie says he subsequently conferred with the English and French resident commissioners, who jointly agreed that the rescued natives in the missionaries' care should be allowed to return to'< their friends, and no. more recruiting allowed at Port Sandwich, where the refugees remained under a police guard. .