With Crimes

Brawls In New Caledonia

Italian Labourers Charged With Crimes

From Our Own Correspondent

Noumea, May 27.

\ SERIES of “unfortunate inci- H dents” since Italian labourers were introduced to New Cale donia to work the various mining enterprises culminated this week in a serious brawl at Tienbaghi (the world’s richest chrome mine), bet ween Italians and Wallis Island labourers. An Italian and a Wal lissian were badly injured; a Wal lissian was murdered by an Italian; and the latter, after an escape into the bush, was captured by the gen darmes.

There is bitter feeling between the two races, and likelihood of an other riot. The Wallissians demand vengeance. Extra gendarmes are patrolling Tienbaghi.

The introduction of Italians was

fiercely opposed in the beginning by the working class sections, who now have an important voice in this government. More strong feeling developed when it was seen that the Italian labour generally was in efficient, and that the social con sequences were bad. There were frequent disturbances at social functions, ending in assault and similar charges. A brawl at a dance at Thio (big mining centre) resulted in a gendarme and an Italian being badly mauled.

Some of these Italians had a criminal record. Several cases of breaking and entering are blamed upon the Italians.

William Willis, 60, of New York, planned to leave Peru at the end of May for a solo raft trip across the Central Pacific to Samoa, where he hopes to land within four months. His raft is made of seven balsa tree-trunks. It is only half the size of that used in the Kon Tiki Expedition.