FIGHTING IN NEW GUINEA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1679, 4 May 1904, Page 62

FIGHTING IN NEW GUINEA.

AN EXPEDITION ATTACKED. SYDNEY, April 28. Tlio “Daily Telegraph” reports that news lias been received in Sydney of a conflict which is stated to have occurred recently between the New Guinea Government expedition and the natives of the nea). Two varying accounts are given. Ono states that on the 3rd March the steamer Merrie England conveyed a party under the control of tlie ActingAdministrator to Robinson Island, to arrest the murderers of the Rev James Chalmers and Mr Tomkins, who were killed and supposed to have been eaten in April, 1901. The steamer anchored close to the shore, and the Governor sent word that he wished the chief to hand over the actual murderers. The chief had promised to band them over, and no danger was anticipated, but at daybreak on March 7th canoes, estimated to number fully three hundred, and carrying from two to four men each, surrounded the steamer. Two or three came alongside, and some half a dozen natives, who were declared to be the murderers, were put aboard. Suddenly, without tlie least warning, a shower of arrows from the canoes came Whizzing aboard, fortunately doing no injury. Those aboard immediately replied with their rifles, and for some minutes a perfect fusillade was maintained on both sides. A number of natives .were shot, several being killed and ethers wounded. Some of the bodies were seen to sink, and it was thus impossible to say how many were killed. The majority of the wounded were taken away ,in canoes. Tlie steamer captured nine prisoners, but subsequently released two old men. The second account differs as to the circumstances leading up to the commencement of hostilities. It also alleges that the punishment inflicted on bho natives was much more severe than was warranted by the circumstances. The account adds: “It is understood that the official! report of the incident states that some sixteen natives were killed. Others make the number much larger—ome being as high as forty or fifty.”