FRENCH AGGRESSIONS AT THE ISLANDS.

West Coast Times, Issue 11805, 22 January 1901, Page 3

FRENCH AGGRESSIONS AT THE ISLANDS.

(Received Jan 21, at 9.14 a.m.) Sydney, Jan 21 A letter from Mr Forlong, a New Zealander, who it laboring as a missionary at Malekula, states the French claim the whole of South Malekula and the small islands on that coast, including the Island where Mr Forlong has settled. Two agents of a French Trading Coy ordered ; Mr Forlong to leave. He declined, and later on, during his absence, the agents returned with twelve armed natives and broke open ihe hut and removed much of Mr Forlong s effects. They left, a warning that if he had not cleared out before January 8, they would come back and kick up a row. Mr Forloug'a letter reports the death of Mrs M'Kenzie, formely of Dunedin, and stationed with her husband at Malekula. The lady died as a result from fever. % (Received Jan 22 at 12.53 a.m) A deputation from the New Hebrides ! Mission Synod waited on Mr Barten, as Minister for External Affairs, and read a statement of their casein which they accused the French of maladministration ,in reference to land dealings with the natives. The Rev Paton declared if the French claims were admitted a large part of the New Hebrides already belongs to them. Rev Small declared that Capfc Rich, of the Ringarooma, as Chairman of the mixed commissiou, had done all in his power to depress aud retard the British interests iv the Islands. The deputation wished for the appointment of some authority to investigate the laud claims. A joint commision could not go i-ern the Islands. What was wanted was annexation to Britain.

Mr l>artou, t in reply, promised to give very serious consideration to the statements made. He considered it his duty to make representations to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.