The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-20
AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.


Our New Caledonia Correspondence.
/ PoRr Az FRANCE,
NuNcxA BAY, NEW CALEDONIA, April Is, 1859 :
Commercial Agricultural and Mining Resources Of the South
Pacific ktands.The French Statements in Ne,o Caledo
| acknowledgements Held Out to Colonils-Splerdid Com
ercial Capacities Of the Biand-Sagar Coffee and Cotton
Staple Articles-Sandal Wood and Beche lc Aer to be
Found in Ab,ndance-Poyt Kanala as Cooling Station
between Sydney and Panama--The Coal Good and in
Quantiy-Lierality Of the French Government 10 Foreign
| Settlers, DC, DC.
AS American enterprise and energy always seeking
| new Of trade and commerce, am anxious to
draw attention TO this fine island which taken posses
sion Of by the French few years ago. during the Cri
mean war; and at period when England would be likely
| TO offer opposition to the occupation
| The island of New Caledonia situated between 20 and
20 south ttue and 1874 1877 east longitude was orgi
nally discovered by Capt, Cook, named by him, and
| afterwards visited by French navgators.
Within the region Of the southeast trade winds the climate
regular and particularly healthy, suited for the produc
ton Of sugar, coffee, cotton and similar articles. The
island is about 225 miles long, by width Of from thirty
to sixty miles On either coast distance Of from eight
10 twelve miles from the sea, a range of mountains
traverscs the island at elevation places Of above
5000 feet and between these ranges magnificent table
lands exist of considerable extent whilst the hills and
mountains covered with forests of various descriptions
Of timber, especially sandal wood Surrounded by coral
reefs which in places forty miles off the land there
many good harbors especially those Kanala on the
east coast and Port St. Vincent the Between the
barrier reef and the island the navigation is open
in smooth water and wherever rivers discharge them
selves the coral has not formed and there are wide
breaks in the reef allowing easy access to the largest
| ships.
This harbor, originally called Nuncea Bay but now Port
France bnt tha
harbor is good when inside yet the approach is some
what dangerous.
The French have erected barracks and laid out the
plan of town. which garsoned by three companies Of
Marines but the number of civilians does not exceed one
hundred in the town and neghborhood There are gene
rally five or six nofwar here, the flagship being
rgae, the Tsbe This squadron is employed in cruising
round the Island, and in visiting other Of the Pacific
islands, extending their trips to Tahita. One vessel
usually runs between here and Sydney TO carry the
monthly mail to meet the overland route via Suez.
The present Governor is commodore in the French
service and has Jurisdiction over all the French posses
But poor colonists themselves the French have done
very little as yet in the way Of settlement few small
plantations OF sugar and coffee have been by
rev individuals in addition 10 the missionaries Of the
Roman Catholic body from Lyons Coffee and the cotton
plant have been tried and succeeded admirably. The
SOIL OF volcanic orgin rich in the extreme and well
suited for the above articles The Valleys although the
richest portions OF the country much used by the
natives except for the growth sugar cane their chief
cultivation consisting Of yams sweet potatoes maize the
cocoanut and taro, which carried all along the sides
OF the hills by the aid of rrigatng streams laid from
the sources OF the numberlesS rivers brooks
island.
Hundreds of thousands of acres of the richest land
much OF 1t clear, could be occupied at once
and all that is required few hundred white settlers
and capitalists The natural resources of the country are
very great Coal is found here the coast and
has been tried in Of the also abounds
in other parts Of the island and in the harbor of Kanala
on the coast.
Specimens of copper of rich quality have been dis
covered In the hill ranges by former partner Of Vile
DUrum Co., Of Sydney, while the northern portion of
the island chiefly quartz formation exactly similar to
the formation Of the Australian Alps and the opinion
OF the celebrated geoogis DR.. Clarke Of Sydney that
mems have been found but as the quartz formation is at
the northern end of the island land that part least known
ne has as yet been set on foot the
who had small establishment port called Baiade '
rne existence OF coal abundance at New Caledonia is
track to Panama. with which place Sydney about to be
connected by powerful line Of contract British
carrying European mails AT present the only coal avaia
BILE for these steamers the coal from Newcastle small
port sixty miles north Of Sydney into which vessels only
the coal has to be ranshpped and costs in Sydney the
steamers So rs ton whereas at Port Kanaa coal could
be obtained at half this COST and the harbor of the
finest in the world vessels of every size being able to
enter it at all times Kanala is admirably placed by ma
ture to supply the Panama and Australian steamers and
| probably will be made depot for that purpose.
An extensive coal trade might also be in supplying
cargoes for ships bound to Callao and the Chinoha
Islands for guano coal always bringing high price in
that quarter for steamers and vessels bound China
India by Torres Straits the passage round New
Guinea could here fill up with coal instead of proceeding
in ballast Port Kanaa might not only be made great
coal depot pot, but general shipping place for
In all ages sandal wood has been article
in great demand in China for boxes, ornaments,
fans and other domestic articles well for the joss
houses or temples of the Chinese, where it is burned in
stead Of incense. Formerly it was found in the Malay
islands but has become extinct there and latterly the
South Pacific Islands have been the source Of supply But
such has been the demand for that most Of the smaller
islands are already denuded, whilst in New Caledonia
vast forests Of it exist in the ranges ten twelve miles
from the sea coast and especially near Kanala these
forests have remained untouched, owing to continued
hosties between the coast and interior tribes moreover
the natives have beasts Of burden whatever, and
therefore could only convey the seaboard what they
could personally carry. only requires clearing away
track which might be done nconsderable expense to
give to bullock wagons these forests from which
thousands of tons Of large sized superior sandal wood
could be shipped every year. and this wood would bring
in the Shanghai and other Chinese markets from hun
dred and thirty to two hundred dollars ton according
quality, whilst the cost of procuring would certainly
not exceed fifteen or sixteen dollars per ton.
Beche lie fner, or trepang, also exists here in
abundance amongst the coral reefs in the neigh
borhood Of Of Kanala along the coast At the
of Paddow, has an establishment in that neghborhood
consisting of few whites and number of natives for the
collection and curing Of beche 10 mer he also picks up
from the natives small quantities of sandal wood and Of
these two articles forms cargoes, which he ships China
vessels couple Of hundred TONS receiving In return
cargoes Of teas for the Sydney market and realizing
mensc profits for cargo of repang and sandal wood will
nearly pay for cargo OF tea rcpang or beche le mer,
being WORTH according to quality from $3.50 to $500 per
| tOn.s
Paddow has only been established in the neighborhood
of Port Kanaa about two years and half, yet he has
/ amassed q fortune of fully $200,000
On friendly terms with the natives, he avas himself to
extent of their labor and has taken himself ma
tive wife, the daughter of one of the coast chiefs.
Amongst the forests scattered the ranges Of the
islands found in great abundance tree which produces
nut somewhat similar to the walnut, without the thick
outer rind This nut peculiar to the Pacific islands, pro-
duces upwards Of sixty per cent Of oil Of superor quality
worth at least $3.50 per ton From here quantities OF the
nuts has been shipped to Sydney and France and the oil
expressed have been valued at that Immense guam
titles Of these nuts might be collected annually few
! hundred whites were settled here.
What might not be done here by enterprze9 Here
are to be found, as have already stated coal sandal
wood, trcpang and this candle nut all Immediately avail
able for commerce. and the three latter require outlay
ofany amount to open large trade. Copper and gold
| will also tempt the settler; but l do not look
| to the latter as likely to lead TO the settle
ment Of this fine island, What I conceive will