NEW CALEDONIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4047, 2 November 1874, Page 3

NEW CALEDONIA.

Wf, are indebted to Captain Millar, of the topsail schooner Dauntless, for the following items of news from New Caledonia :— The barque Stella, Maris, from Franco, arrived on the lGtli Oclober with a cargo of wines, &c., the transport ship Loire arrived from Cherbourg on the ISth October, having about 300 convicts and 50 emigrants on board. The ship Bosquet, also from France, arrived on the 20th October with general cargo and GO passengers. The schooner Mavis arrived from the Islands with labour on the 13th October. The cutter Lapwing was burnt by the natives at Santa Cruz, and all ilie crew murdered, about middle of August. II.M. schooner Sandfly was attacked by the same natives about September 15, at noon. About a thousand natives were in the canoes, and they attempted to set lire to her jibs, which were hanging loose. They were forced to use their guns on the natives which caused great havoc. After which the vessel was got under weigh and put to sea. The convicts of New Caledonia now number over SOOO, and are mostly on the lie des Pines, which is a short distance to the southward of the mainland. Other convict settlements are scattered all round the coast. Owing to the late arrivals of the Communists, these numbers will be considerably increased. The convicts are mostly employed on the roads, which, round Noumea, are in excellent condition, and on any Government work that may be going on. They are at present reclaiming a portion of the harbour, which, when completed, will be of great vahie to the town of Noumea. The convicts are paid a few sous a day, part of which is retained until their term of sentence is expired. They are not overworked, aud are allowed to smoke—in fact, if anything, they have a better time of it thr.n the soldiers who guard them. Some very clevcrly-carvcd ornaments, made out of wood and shells, are manufactured by the prisoners, who sell tliem to the storekeeper. Numbers of these curiosities find their way to the Sydney market. If a prisoner escapes a gun is lircd, and any one—soldier or citizen— has carte blanche, if discovered, to shoot him dead. Several instances have occurred, even since the cscapeof Rochefort, of convicts endeavouring to escapc, but they invariably have either been shot or drowned in attempting to swim across to the coral reefs, although supposing they readied them "they could not get away, being surrounded by the sea. Any convict showing signs of insubordination, the guard have full power to shoot him on the spot. No doubt, with a view of soothing their savage breasts, the convicts are allowed to have a brass band, and a very good one it is. They perform once a week, generally on a Saturday, in tlie town, to the great delectation of the inhabitants.