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 
Depute, 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 
libdrds , are practically free, 
and have either small 
farms or act as household 
servants, etc. The second 
class are employed on 
NEW CALEDONIAN FLUTE-PLAYER. 
farms and public works, and receive regular wages. The 
