THE NEW HEDRICKS AND NEW CALEDONIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12425, 7 August 1902, Page 5

THE NEW HEDRICKS AND NEW CALEDONIA.

NEWSPAPER yEWS. Press Association—Ey Telegraph— Copyright. , SYDNEY, August G. (Received August: G, at 9.27 a.m.) The French newspapers published in the Now Hebrides and in Noumea continue to show resentment over the despatch of Australian emigrants to the New Hebrides. They appeal to tho French Government to step in and prevent Great Britain annexing the island. One paper savs: ''While the sublime patriot); of South Africa held tlie veldt England concealed her intention, but now that her hands are free she throws aside the mask, and, confident in her own strength, and knowing the incapacity of our, own Government, the time for caution lias passed) and she resolutely asserts her supposed rights' in the islands to-day. Unless there" is an extraordinary concurrence :.of\ circumstances ami a sudden awakening of national energy, the New Hebrides will be lost to France,. and then New Caledonia will lollow,"

Another paper says: '"Let us end this dispute, and make England understand that, owning three-quarters of the land and being represented on the islands) in the proportion of three Frenchmen to one Englishman', we cannot help hut take possession of. tho archipelago, which is so necessary to the security of our neighbour New Caledonia." (Received August 6, at 9.42 a.m.) Recently a movement was started amongst the big mining companies in Now Caledonia in favour of :i revival of transportation to that island. A gentleman who was deputed by the Noumea Chamber of Commerce Ims left Sydney for France, in order to protest to the French Government against any. such revival.