Inter-Island Brawl
p. 123 · Read in the full issue
In Noumea Streets
ANCIENT antagonisms involving
New Caledonia’s Melanesians and the people of Lifou, in the nearby Loyalty Islands, boiled up in a serious melee in Noumea streets in October.
One or two skirmishes had occurred during the festivities on September 24 (the anniversary of the French establishment in New
Caledonia). Subsequently what was
almost a pitched battle broke out in front of a Noumea cinema.
The police were inadequate to stop the fighting, which ranged up and down the streets, the combatants paying little attention to the traffic
Gendarmerie and troops were called out and gained control before any serious injuries were indicted.
Nobody knows when this antagon ism originated. It probably stems from ancient raids made by the islanders on the New Caledonia mainland.
After the latest outbreak the authorities called a meeting of chiefs and other responsible persons, and a declaration of peace was signed and witnessed.
In a similar conflict several years ago a combatant suffered fatal in juries. t Mr. Ron Bosley and Mr. Bruce Harding of Lae, NG, shared a £6,000 prize in the NSW State Lottery drawn on November 1.