NEW CALEDONIA 



463 



over 2000 pupils. A 

 " Conseil General " elected 

 by universal suffrage has 

 powers nearly corres- 

 ponding to those of France. 

 The island returns no 

 Dispute, but is represented 

 in France by a delegate 

 to the Colonial Office. 



The penal establish- 

 ment is the chief feature 

 of the island. There are 

 five classes of convicts, 

 arranged partly in con- 

 formity with the French 

 law, which enacts that 

 those condemned to penal 

 servitude for eight years 

 or over are kept for life 

 upon the island, while 

 those of shorter sentences 

 are not permitted to re- 

 turn to France immedi- 

 ately on the expiration 

 of them, but have to 

 undergo surveillance for 

 a further period of three 

 years. The first class, or 

 liMr6s, are practically free, 

 and have either small 

 firms or act as household 

 servants, etc. The second 

 class are employed on 

 farms and public works, and receive regular wages. 



NEW CALEDONIAN FLUTE-PLAYEK. 



The 



