CIVILISING PAPUA,

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18657, 13 March 1924, Page 7

CIVILISING PAPUA,

ATTACK UPON MAGISTRATE.

Ai. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. Mar.► 12. Senator G. F. Pearce, Minister for Home and Territories, has received an official (report of an attack by natives on an assistant resident magistrate, Mr. Flint, at Papua, while on a mission to establish friendly relations with natives in Kunimaipa . Valley, north of Mount Yule. .J.. ." When on the return journey Mr. Flint's party was crossing the River Saint Joseph, the natives, who volunteered to act as carriers, took advantage of their position in the line of march , and attacked the members of the party immediately in front. - A. false step and a fall saved Flint, but a policeman in , front of him had his head almost severed by a blow from a tomahawk. Two other native polic* men were wounded. A fight followed, the assailants escaping. A police camp was later organised from headquarters and established in the district, and after six months of travelling over rough country the principals in the attack were arrested. Three were convicted of murder and, sentenced to death, ana two to seven years' hard labour. The death sentences were later commuted to seven years. " Friendly relations are now established with most of the tribes in the valley. Mr. Pearce announced that a punitive expedition was not to be despatched to carry out reprisals for the murder of Mr. O'Dowd, the black labour recruiter. The only action taken will be to bring the actual offenders to justice and bring hitherto uncontrolled areas within the radius of effective administration. ' ' :