AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 142, 16 June 1886, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

THE NEW HEBRIDES. Sydney, June 7. The Governor received an important rti spatch from. E. LayarJ, Acting Consul a Noumea, iuformiutj him of the departure of the man-of-war Dives for New Hebrides, it is said wish the intention of hois-ting the French flag. Tnc despatch reads :— il Sue has taken a body of French troops on board, and three mouths' provisions for them. The Government, made large purchases of limber and ccrrug t.-d iron, and the artillery -workshops are working night and. day making 1 barracks for the soldier.*, which are to be conveyed to the island by the steam transport Magellan to morrow. The secret was well kept until the departure of the Bteamer for Sydney. No vessel was allowed to leave the harbor by a general order of the Acting Governor. li. was openly rumored this was done specially to irevent me getting to the islands first, and hoisting the English flag. The New Caledonian Government received a cablegram from France, and the Dives was put in fighting tiirn before leaving, as the German gunboat Albatross was in the New Hebrides. The two entrances to tho harbor were watched by armed boats all night with the same intent, and I have other reasons for believing that my house was watched 'by spies for at least two nighis, uutil the French vessel was three miles outside tbe harbor. I have lived here ten years, and know the Post Office too well to entrust, it with anything important."