THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9646, 22 January 1903, Page 2

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

A SYSTEM OF SLAVERY. Electric Telegraph Copyright-United Press Association (Received Januaiy 22. 10.20 a m ) SYDNEY. January 22. Dr. Patton, Lead of the New Hebrides Mission is visiting Sydney. He speaks liopefully of the mission work in the New Hebrides, and says that since the appointment of the Anglo-French Commis* sion much of tlie friction that formerly existed lifts been swept away. Dispute's tire now settled, and the parties agree to the authority which commends respect and spreads confidence. The change meaiiK a large commercial gain, to the islands. The traders and settlers, however, strongly favor British annexation, and hope it may still be brought about. He considers the new settlers have good prospect* for the future. With patienci they should do well. A great evil was trading in firearms, which was carried on to a lamentable degree amongst the natives. Just before he left the captain of a. French schooner, while landing the body of an islander who died aboard, was shot dead, and two of the crew badly wounded. Some, parts of the islands were suffering severely from drought. A settler at Epi gives an account of tht kidnapping of tliree of his native boys by am armed party of Frenchmen. The boys had run away from some French settlers owing to ill-usage. Tlie Fiencl are allowed to buy and sell na. tives for a term of years. He gives instances where boys tire whipped and treated like slaves, and appeals to the authorities through the press to set tl« enslaved boys at liberty.