THE NATIVE INSURRECTION IN NEW CALEDONIA.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 5, 28 September 1878, Page 2

THE NATIVE INSURRECTION IN NEW CALEDONIA.

The Wotonga which arrived in Sydney on the 3rd instant brings dates from New Caledonia to August 29. The insurgent natives are being slowly but surely captured by troops and executed. The Patai chiefs, Eugene and Jack, have left their villages, and with their followers, are pursuing the murderers. LieutenantColonel Wendling, during the expedition he headed immediately after his arrival at the front, was fired upon by insurgents without effect. Early in the month volunteers, under Degislan, captured 16 insurgents. They attempted to escape during the night. Nine were shot dead on the spot, two w ere w r ounded, and live escaped. Six revolted natives w*cre subsequently executed at Patai. They w r ere captured by Eugene and Jack. The notorious scoundrel Charlie was amongst them. According to the testimony of one of the women tried and condemned to be shot, the blacks are getting short of provisions. The Nouvelle Caledonie of the 14th states that three small tribes of Moindon openly passed over to the insurgents, after killing a “ Libere ” and lffutilating the corpse, and taking away the i eggs and arms. The transport Ranee, with 200 soldiers, arrived on the 19th from Saigon. More troops are on the way from France, via Suez. The state of affairs north of Bourail, where M. lloudaille continues in a state of siege, is very unsatisfactory, and grave appprehensions are entertained as to the result of his being left so long without aid fighting the natives. In an attack by 200 blacks upon a party of defenders, the former were beaten off, leaving four dead. Fears are entertained of the revolt ip this district : spreading. Later news states that four colonists were killed and one wounded by the revolted tribes of Moindon, five miles from the strongly fortified post of Urai. Commandant JServan is vigorously pushing forward operations against the insurgents, lie killed nine of them in an en- : counter about the 24th. Up to the present time a hundrod and fifty 1 insurgents arc known to be killed, 1 the only death on the side of the } whites "being Colonel Passebose. The \ conduct of the supposed friendly natives is much complained of. They appear more intent on securing war spoils than killing the enemy, and j they are far from submissive. The ! Nouvelle Caledonie of the 27th refers to the unquiet state of the tribes, and l states that the insurgents killed by Houdaille’s party number 76, including one chief. One or two 1 hundred insurgents openly attacked the military post, but were beaten back. Fears are entertained for the safety of the friendly chief Eugene, w r ho has , disappeared.