THE EXPULSION OF THE REV J. JONES FROM MARE.

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 8274, 3 January 1888, Page 2

THE EXPULSION OF THE REV J. JONES FROM MARE.

With reference to the action of the French authorities in ordering the expulsion of the Rev J. Jones from tho mission station on the island of Mard, one of the Loyalty Group, the rev gentleman called at the Sydney Morning Herald office lately, and gave the following statement as his version of the affair. He said ;—“ On the morning of the 9-h December the French man-of-war Duchaffaut arrived in the north bay—an anchorage about four miles from the mission station —at Mare. Soon after the vessel arrived, a boat containing the captain of gendarmes (M, Roll), four armed men, an interpreter, and a pilot was rowed across to the mission station. A little later on my servant informed me that the armed men were coming up the pathway to the dwellinghouse. lat once left the house and met tho party as they approached. After an exchange of salutations M. Roff said, ‘I want to speak to you.’ Ireplied, ‘ Certainly ; please to walk in the house.’ He entered and I followed —a gendarme, the French interpreter,and the pilot accompanying me. The captain then produced a dispatch, and at once administered the oath to the interpreter, who translated tho dispatch, which was in the French tongue, to me. The general tenor of the document was to the effect that I was to be immediately expelled from the Loyalty Islands because my presence thwro was objectionable to t.is® F«*nch Government. I was very much surprised, and said to M. Roff, ‘ Why am I to be expelled ? I have done nothing ; 1 have always acted in a proper manner toward the French Government, and I have always taught the natives to do the same.’ The captain answered, ‘I do not know why you are to be expelled ; I am simply carrying out my instructions.’ I said, ‘Whom tar. I to go V He replied, ‘lmmediately; there is the steamer to take you away.’ The captain then asked me how long it would take me to get ready to leave Marti. I told him that it would take months before I could arrange my affairs. He then said, ‘ Well, you have to go now, and 1 will give you half an hour to gut ready, and if you refuse to obey mo I shall use force ; you must consider you are under arrest.’ I answered, ‘You will not bo required to use any force ; I shall do my best te obey your orders.’ To this the captain replied, ‘ You are in my charge ; and, although I do not wish to act in a harsh manner, I must fulfil my duty, and see that you are kept under my eye. I shall, therefore, command a gendarme to accompany you wherever you go while you are engaged in packing, and you must not speak to any of the natives other than your domestics.’ After I had packed up some of my goods, the French officer said to me, ‘ I wish you to sign a paper stating that 1 have given you sufficient time to get ready.’ I answered, ‘ I suppose this refers to my personal effects for travelling purposes, and not to my household and other property.’ Mr Roff said, ‘ Oh, certainly, ik refers only to your getting ready to go away to Noumea, and not to your household property.” I then left the mission station, accompanied by a guard of armed men, boarded the French warship, and reached Noumea in safety. I should like to state that I was well treated by the officers of the Duchaffaut. I was set at liberty upon reaching New Caledonia, but the Governor of the French settlement stated that I was not to go to the Loyalty Isles again. I interviewed the British Consul at Noumea, Mr Lsyard, and he recommended me to write out a protest against my expulsion, and stated he would deliver the same to M. Nouet, the Governor of New Caledonia, and would send a copy to the British Foreign Office. Mr Layard further advised me to .hasten to Sydney and see Lord Carrington. I left Noumea by the Gunga on the following morning, and arrived in Port Jackson on Thursday evening.” Mr Jones also stated that the French authorities had acted in a very harsh manner toward him ; and he considered that great injustice had been done to him in compelling him to leave a mission station where he had resided for nearly 34 years. He hopes the Home Government will take action in the matter, and demand compensation from the French Government, as he will suffer a considerable pecuniary loss through these high-handed proceedings. Mr Jones is of opinion that the Protestant inhabitants of Mare, who number about 3000 (the other 500 dwel ling on the island belong to tho Roman Catholic Church), will remain true to their religion, unless they are persecuted by the ruling authorities. Tho rev. gentleman waited upon his Excellency the Governor, at Government House, yesterday morning, and showed him a copy of the despatch or document by virtue of which ho was expelled from Mare. The despatch in question is signed by the Governor of New C.dedonia. Lord Carrington promised Mr Jones that he would consider the matter and communicate with him hereafter. The rev gentleman has also reported the facts connected with his expulsion to the Sydney agent of the London Missionary Society, the Rev J. P. Sunderland. Mr Jones’ wife and family were residing in Sydney when he was expelled from Hard. During his stay in this colony, the rev gentleman will be engaged in revising his translation of the Scriptures into the Mare tongue. His expulsion his absolute, and he will not be allowed to enter any of the Loyalties again.