DREADFUL MASSACRE AT NEW CALEDONIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6688, 23 September 1882, Page 3

DREADFUL MASSACRE AT NEW CALEDONIA.

(Sydney Merning Herald.) Following closely upon the chapter of incidents recorded in the cruise of the Diamond comes another tale of treachery and murder by the South Sea Islanders. On this occasion the victims are not British subjects, but peaceable French traders, who were pounced upon at an unwary moment and cruelly put to death by the irreconcileable savages at Santo Island. Fortunately, however, a French warship was at hand and despatched with all promptitude to the scene of the outrage, and, judging from the sentiment given below from - a French newspaper, it would appear that in plain : language this unprovoked massacre can only-be avenged by extracting, not pigs or cocoanuts, but “ blood for blood.” The intelligence reaches us through a late issue of “La Neo Caledonien,” and the following is a translation of the account, of the affair which’ appears in the issue of that journal published on the 25th ultimo ; On Tuesday morning, the 22nd August, the Port-Villa entered the harbor of Noumea with her flag at half-mast, which warned the inhabitants that some misfortune had happened. The PortVilla had just returned from the New Hebrides, and, unfortunately, the people at Noumea have been for some time iu the habit of anticipating outrages. Three Frenchmen— M.M., Zoeptel, Mnnter, andßouxel—had been surprised and massacred by the Natives of Santo, and one Kanaka, Mallifcolo, who accompanied these unfortunate men, met with the same fate. The captain and two other swam

for their lives, and got on board the PortVilla. There wore, besides the captain of the boat, Mr Rose, a passenger, and one Native, who only escaped a fearful end by a miracle. “ Far and wide,” says the French journal, “an account of these atrocities will be read, and our readers will see how far the audacity of these ferocious brutes will lead them on their murderous raids on defenceless people. We fervently hope that the Government will make a severe example of these treacherous brutes. We have too long rested content with a Platonic administration. It ie not by the burning of a village, and the destruction of a few plantations, or the bagging of a few pigs, that sufficient punishment can in any way be inflicted. Those treacherous brutes must be followed up, and hunted down as though in pursuit of venomous reptiles or beasts of prey, for the time has come when we must get from them blood for blood. It is true that the death of these bloodthirsty savages would not give back to us the life of our noble compatriots ; but these will, at any rate, be avenged, and it is only in this way, by inspiring terror throughout all the islands, that we shall prevent a repetition of these atrocities. The D’Estrees left on Wednesday morning for the New Hebrides ; and we congratulate the Government on the prompt movement made, which leads us to believe that a forcible impression will be made. We render, in conclusion, pious homage to the memory of M. Zcsfel and bis companions, who augment the list of martyrs who have fallen under the tomahawks of these savage brutes in the cause of civilisation.”