The New Hebrides.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10623, 23 January 1903, Page 3

The New Hebrides.

Sydney, January 22. Dr. Paton, who* is visitng Sydney, speaks hopefully of mission work in the New Hebrides. He says that since the appointment of [the AngloFrench Commission much friction which formerly existed has been swept away, and disputes are now settled with a degree of authority which commands respect and spreads confidence. He adds that the change will mean . large commercial gain to the islands. Traders and settlers, however, are strongly in favor "of British annexation, and hope that it may stilljbe brought about. He considers that the new settlers have good prospects in the future, and with patience should do well. The great evil was trading with .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 had died f aboard, was shot dead, and two of the crew were badly wounded. Continuing his narrative, Dr. Paton said that some parts of the island were suffering severely from drought. A settler at Epi gave Dr. Paton an account of the kidnapping of three of his native boys by an armed party of Frehhmen. The boys had run away from French settlers owing to alleged ill-usage. Dr. Paton alleges that the French were allowed to buy and sell natives for a term of years, and he gives instances where boys were whipped and treated like slaves. He appeal 3to the authorities through the Press to set the enslaved native boys at liberty. ' .