The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-03-27
New Caledonia

From all that we can gather. it appears that New
Caledonia it making rapid strides in population, and
that the interior is being explored and communities
ton with it opened in many ways. The regulations
are however of so rigid a nature, that few English
men or colonists are likely to make Noumea their
home unless the attraction in the way of money
making is very extraordinary. The gun fires at ten
at night. and all lights must then be extinguished.
Any one in the street after that hour is liable to be
arrested. The Government issue an official journal
and no other newspaper is allowed except one whose
matter is confined to advertisements. In the sugar
plantations, life is of course comparatively free but
there must always be the sense of a political restraint
and the oppressive regard and care of a paternal
government against which an En~glishman, or an
American. with their notions of personal liberty,
must instinctively rebel.
A correspondent residing at Noumea. in a letter
dated January IL, and writing to the Sydney Morn
ing Herald, states that on the 9th of that month the
msn-of-war steamer Infernel arrived at the chef lieu
of New Caledonia from Sydney, and brought with
her important telegraphic dispatches from the French
Government TO the Governor of New Caledonia, and
further. that on the morning Of the 9TH it was cur
renily reported in Noumea that an order for the ex-
,pulsion of come of the civil inhabitants (besides num-
erous recalls for oficials) had arrived from Paris
Our correspondent says that the first certainty as to
these reports was evidenced by the peremptory recall
of several officials circumstance which appears to
have taken all Noumea by surprise; but when the
remainder of the telegram came to be known, we are
assured that the whole population, civil and off,
cial, was thrown into CONSERVATION" This state Of
things was, we hear, intensified when it became
known that Mr.. Puech (of the firm of Rataboul and
Puech) was one of the persons to be expelled from
the colony. 1t appears that Messrs. Ratsboul and
Puech are amongst the principal merchants and inn
porters of Noumea, receiving every two months a
cargo from Bordeaux, and owning the schooner
Noumea. The same fate was found to be awarded
to Mr.. s. Sohn, timber merchant and saW-mill pro-
prietor (well-known in the Australian colonies;) the
other parties to be =" expelled being Mr.. Blaise, o
grocer; Mr.. Gassan, formerly storekeeper at the
Ducos Peninsula; and Mr.. Dussert, a publican.
Our correspondent at Noumea, who signs his own
name in full, further states that the same telegraphic
despatch, which. inperatively directed the recall Of
officials, and the expulsion of the above
named citizens, also sent an order to close the Ma
sonic Lodge of Noumea, named "L' Union Caledo-
nienne,'' with q distinct prohibition TO open any
similar " establishment in the colony or its depen-
denotes.
Our correspondent states that neither motive nor
explanation is given for the above detailed acts, and
and that every one is at a loss to find the key to the
enigma, considering that all the gentlemen thus
dealt with are highly respected and esteemed by the
whole population. Two months grace are given to
each party marked out for expuIsion-to allow them
to arrange their affairs. Several of them intend, it
Is understood. to proceed to seek redress.
The above communication is attested by signed let
ter, and by neatly executed photographs of the order
for the expulsion of Mr.. Puech, and of the order for
closing the Masonic Lodge.