LATEST FROM NEW CALEDONIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6063, 23 April 1881, Page 5

LATEST FROM NEW CALEDONIA.

«—. MURDER OF A NATIVE INTERPRETER BY A CHIEF. We have files of the Neo-Caledonien to the Ist April from Noumea. On the 20th ultimo the native chief Baie murdered a native interpreter named Louis with his own hand because of a eulogy passed upon Louis by the commandant of the district, on the occasion of a pilon-pilon (native dance), for his conduct during the late native insurrection in gi\ ing the authorities early information of the movements of the rebels. It appears that the chief Baie and his tribe intended to join the insurgents, but'at the last moment desisted, as they found Louis had kept the Government apprised of their movements. They have now taken their revenge by his assassination. The French man-of-war D'Estrees immediately left for the scene of the murder, taking Captain Lambinet, of the Infantry of Marine, a detachment of troope, and a number of the natives of Kone to search for the offending chief, Baie. The chief was accompanied by a number of natives, his presumed accomplices. The same day that the troops landed from the they were joined by another detachment of soldiers, and further reinforced by a number of natives from the Roman Catholic mission station, who had ' been ' despatched by the priest, M. R. T. Roussell, to the assistance of the authorities. The post at Kone was garrisoned 30 seamen, under the command of an officer of the D'Estrdes, while the rest of the troops and 300 natives scoured the country to arrest the murderer and his allies. In a short space of time they were hemmed in, and the chief Baie was obliged to surrender himself to the officer in command of the forces, and he was brought on to Noumea in the D'Estrges. The Neo-Caledonien gives the statistics of beer drunk in Noumea during ISSO, and its money value. The price was £4400, expended as follows : — English beer, from Sydney, in cask, 72,320 gallons; English porter, pale ale, and beer, in bottle, 3439 dozen; French beer, 445 dozen; German beer, 200 dozen. The nickel Bel Air is doing pretty well. Considerable reefs have been found, which will afford workings for some time. The coffee crop has been a failure, the Elants rotting owing to the heavy rain that ad fallen.

There are continual revolts in the penal settlement amongst the convicts, arid the services of the troops are necessary to enforce order. . During the stay of the steamer India at Noumea, the ill-fated emigrants of the Marquis de Ray's settlement were hospitably treated. The Governor allowed the passengers the same ration issued to the troops, and milk, i&c., for the children. £140 was subscribed by the inhabitants of Noumea. Before leaving, the captain of the India tendered his thanks, especially to M. and Mrs. Joulin, who collected supplies of linen,, clothing, shoes, &c, for the destitute emigrants. ______________