"May God Protect
p. 32 · Read in the full issue
You"
How Teriiri'i Led His Men From Tahiti to Noumea
THE following weird, official appoint ment, gazetted in the “Messager de Tahiti,” on April 3, 1859, has been kept by Mr. W. W. Bolton, MA, a well known historian, of Papeete, Tahiti, as a literary curiosity for many years:— In the name of God whose mercy is infinite.
Chief Teriirii.
You ask to come with me to New Caledonia.
I consent. Come then with us. You shall follow the invincible eagles of our Emperor from the summits of Morare to the plains of Diahot. I name you from April 1, 1859, Cap tain Commandant of the native contingent of the troops stationed in New Caledonia.
You shall have 200 francs a month, and food.
May God protect you.
The Governor,
Saisset.
It was not until Mr. Bolton read an article, “Early Settlers in New Caledonia,” by H. E. L. Friday, in the June issue of the “PIM,” that he learned whom Teriirii was to fight. The near-poetical phrase, “from the summits of Morare to the Plains of Diahot,” still has him— and us—beaten. Perhaps some reader can enlighten him.
In 1859, Saisset was not only France’s Imperial Commissioner for the Society Islands, but also Governor of French Western Oceania, which included New Caledonia. Teriirii was chief of Mahina and a Toohitu (Native Judge), and on July 3, 1847, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
In 1853, France had taken possession of New Caledonia, but the natives could scarcely be called amenable to the idea.
In 1856, when Noumea’s population num bered only 129, Noumea was almost wiped out by a native rising, and in 1857 many hundreds of natives planned to surprise the town again. On this occasion, Cap tain Paddon warned the townspeople just in time.
In that same month (January) 13 white settlers were massacred, and their settle ment, Mont Dore, razed to the ground.
It is here that first mention is made of Teriirii, and of Tahitian-New Caledonian co-operation. He and his men helped punish the responsible tribe on that occasion, and apparently spent further considerable time there—it is not until 1859 that it is recorded that Teriirii and his 24 followers returned to their native Tahiti.
Mrs. Ada Millie Moore, wife of Inspec tor J. A. Moore, of the Fiji Police, died in Suva on September 12. Mrs. Moore was the eldest daughter of Mrs. Hope well, of Suva, and was born there.