ISLAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4261, 22 January 1901, Page 5

ISLAND NEWS.

TROUBLE WITH A FRENCH TRADING ( 'OjIFAN Y. .SYDNEY, January 2i. A letter received from the llev H. Forlong. a New Ac?,lander, who is labouring as a missionary in Malekula, states that the Frcmch claim the wlioie of South Malekula- and the small islands on that coast, including the island where Mr Fo-rlong had settled. Two agents of the French Trading Company ordered .Mr Forlong to leave, which, he declined to do. Later on, during his absence, the agents returned with t ivelvo armed natives, broke open his hut, and removed much of Mr Foriong’s effects. They left, a, warning t hat, if he had not cleared 1 out, before Bth January they would cornel back and kick up a row. Mr Forloug’s letter records the death as the result of fever of Sirs McKenzie, formerly of Dunedin, and stationed with her husband at. SfaJekula. (Received January 22 12..53 a-.m.) SYDNEY’,' January 21. A deputation from fcho New Hebrides Mission Synod wailed ,on the Hon E. Barton, a.s Minister for External Affairs, and made a statement of their ease. Mr Reid accused the French of maladministration with reference to land dealing with the natives. The Rev Mr Paton declared that if French claims were admitted, a large part- of the Hebrides already belonged to them. The Rev Mr Small declared that Captain Rich, of Ii.M.S. Ringarooma, as chairman of the Mixed Commission, had done all in his power -to depress and retard Brilish intere.sl.s in the Islands. The deputation wished the appointment of -some authority to investigate the land, claims. A Joint Commission could not. govern the Islands. V/hafc was wanted w as. annexation by Britain. .Mr Barton, in reply, promised to give very serious consideration to the statements made. He considered it would be his duty to make representation to the Secretary of State- for the Colonics.