THE PAPUAN AFFRAY.

Mataura Ensign, 4 July 1914, Page 5

THE PAPUAN AFFRAY.

♦ MISSIONARY'S ACCUSATION. IT ILKOTKIO TELEGRAPH COPTfcIGHI, PEB UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION. Received Julv 4,. 10.45 a.m. SYDNEY, July 4. Further reports of the Papuan affray n June state that the natives have >een in a turbulent state for some ime. They committed an unprovoked ittack upon Mr Williams, a planter, vhen passing a village in .his launc'n, md also made preparations to muruer tev. Butcher and his wife, of the Lonlon Mission Station. In connection with the fight Mr But-. her accuses the Papuan police,of whnon excesses, especially regarding the ayoijeting of a woman, and demands hat a full inquiry be held'. News of ji serious conflict, between a fcriw of. natives and a body of Papuan police was received liy the Australian Minister for External Affairs on June 21 from'the Administrator of the Territory. * The trouble originated through the natives of a vilkigo called Aird-Hill threatening to kill the Samoan teacher of the mission, and shooting at a number of mission laborers who wore working at a wharf. Subsequently Uvo brothers named AVilliams were attacked while passing the village in a launch. The magistrate in the division, to* Cardew, sent a patrol officer named Herbert with 16 native police at night to effect, arrests. They landed ..md surrounded the dnbUi which is the large native house of the tribe. Herbert with four of the noljeo entered. The remainder of the native police seem to have been left outside. On seeing the police the natives within the dubu stampeded to the other end. Five or six of the tribe then faced the. yatrol .officer and the police under him, and threw heavy spears. One pierced Herbert's clothing and another hit.a constable. A native with a club rushed at Herbert, who then ordered, a constable to fire. Herbert also fired t)vo shots with iv revolver over the heads of k his assailants. The constables likewise fired, apparently, though it is not expressly stated, over the heads of the natives. It is said that tfce police who were left outside then fired without orders and contrary to orders, and eight natives were killed. It was dark at the time. The (asualties included a youth, a boy and a. girl. According to the message which reached Mr (Jl.vnn.Hhis was dope unintentionally, owing to the darkness, h'our arrests were made. The members of the tiabe stated that they were prepared to attack the mission, and nad-collected. a quantity of arms, spears and oilier weapons for the purpose. Their object, they explained, was to obtain-bjopd jto christen their new canoes. The custom of christening ennoes with blood has been the cause of considerable conflict among the natives.