NATIVES OF NEW GUINEA. Horrible Outrage.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 129, 21 November 1885, Page 5

NATIVES OF NEW GUINEA. Horrible Outrage.

The German corvette Albatross has brought to Cooktowa an English trader named Thomas Smith from Mioko, where he had been copra making and prospecting, and where on September 21 his mate Campbell was barbarously murdered by thenatives; also a aative boy who was in his employment. Campbells body was placed on a copra drying-house, and the whole was on fire and consumed. The natives afterward devoured the native boy. Smith is suffering from fever, and is bo very low as to be unable to give fuller particulars of the massacre. The captain of the Albatross has offered to take him on to Sydney. Later Particulars. With respect to the murder recently committed by the natives of New Ireland, it appears that Smith, Cambell, and nine other white traders lefb Sydney in the steamer Golden Gate for New Britain and New Ireland, under arrangement to trade and make copra. The vessel sailed from Port Jackson on March 20, and arrived in Bhoko Island in April. The party landed near Lally point, ]New Ireland, on April 10, with trade and provisions, and land was bought from the natives, with whom trouble seems to have begun at once, the natives stealing everything they could get hold of. One native was Bhot by a neighbouring trader for having Btolen a musket. Hte body was hawked about by the natives, lashed to a bamboopole, from station to station. A fruitless effort was made to obtain compensation, but none was paid Surveyors were constantly at work, the land being purchased from chiefe, who were induced to sign a deed, for which they received a fig of tobacco. Trouble also occurred between the British and German traders, who were trying to outrun each other and get the natives on their side. Farrell is reported to have landed with two armed boats'} crews on some land, purchased by him, and to have hoisted the American flag. These natives were shot by Spearman « for theft and for haying attacked two kanakas in his employment. There were 500 of „ thorn on the Island, The tribes seemed Jo be always hailing from coast villages, <•; Fever prostrated the traders andproveidreadful to them. Smith decided to leave 1 [ and go to Kapulat, , which he did on Sep4 [tember.24. That day, Campbell was muiv - I dered, no doubt in revenge tor the kanakas ; shot by traders, ■ >\ \. *' i ' r. '