Reprieved

Two New Hebrides Murderers Reprieved

ALTHOUGH it was reported from Vila in May last that Seine Sicambi and Nari, two members of the savage Big Nambas tribe of the New Hebrides, had been sentenced to death and executed for the murder of M. Paul Mazoyer, a French planter, we learn now that the execution was not carried out.

The French and British High Commis sioners for the Western Pacific, invoking powers conferred upon them by the 1914 Protocol, commuted the sentences to 10 years’ hard labour.

M. Mazoyer, of Aore, was recruiting at Malekula Island in October, 1939, when natives from the shore, aided by some of his own crew, attacked the schooner.

After fierce fighting, Mazoyer was over powered and killed. Some time later, three Malekula natives were captured and tried in Vila for murder. One received five years’ hard labour and the other two (Sicambi and Nari) were sentenced to death.

Monsieur G. Jeanson, a French official in the New Hebrides, recently left Vila for France, his post in the Condominium Administration having been abolished, as a measure of economy.

Returned to Tulagi recently after fur lough in Australia is Mr. “Jock” Beveridge with Mrs. Beveridge. “Jock” and Mrs.

Beveridge came to Tulagi originally from Fiji. He is Deputy Superintendent of Police at Tulagi, plays an excellent game of golf, and wears the Military Medal awarded in the Great War, his service in which terminated as a prisoner of war in Germany, with the rank of Lieutenant.

Another recent returnee to the Protec torate is Mrs. Gaskell, of Buena Vista, Nggela Island, who underwent a serious operation during her stay in Melbourne.

Mrs. Gaskell, whose husband is one of the oldest residents in the Solomons, has lived there for over 20 years. Her two sons Geoff, and Jack recently offered themselves for the A.I.F.