2.
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When the Chinese found that owing to the prompt action of the Police the opposing gangs could not engage in hand to hand conflict they threw the explosive bombs - about five or six bombs were thrown in the direction of their enemies and at the Police who were guarding the gates. One Police boy, Jacob, apparently received the full force of one of these dastardly missiles in the stomach. He was removed to the Government Hospital but he died two days later. Another Police Boy received a wound in the head, two Caroline Island boys who reinforced the Police, were struck by fragments of the bombs and about 10 or 12 Chinese were more or less injured. Notwithstanding the fact that explosive bombs were being thrown the Nauruan Police stuck to their posts, displaying courage and devotion to duty to a degree which I feel sure could not be surpassed by any troops in the world.
Pap
The my predecessor
A number of arrests of Chinese have been made and the accused persons have been remandou for trial at the Central Court. A system- atic search of the locations was made without delay and some further bombs were discovered. The bombs were composed of gelignite with cap and fuse. In several cases a glass bottle was used as a container the explosive being tightly packed with sand mixed with quantities of scrap iron, coral and nails. Gelignite is used in large quantities in the mining operations of the British Phosphate Commissioners. possibilities of its misuse have always been realized enacted an Ordinance, No.3 of 1924, copy attached, dealing with the question of explosives. Regular monthly inspections of the stocks are made by the Directob of Police vide the report of that officer attached to the monthly reports of this Administration, and the instructions issued by the British Phosphate Commissioners to the Overseers are revised from time to time and tightened up. In a limited number of cases, permits to handle explosives during working hours under the supervision of the European Overseer were issued to certain Chinese leading hands who were regarded by the British Phosphate Commissioners as being particularly trustworthy. Since the recent occurrence these permits huve been withdrawn.
The conditions at present are normal but extreme watchfulness is being exercised because it is very difficult to understand the mind of a Chinaman. Arising out of this regrettable occurrence there are a few matters which will receive the immediate attention of this Administration, viz.-
(1) A searching enquiry will be conducted to ascertain the pw sible source of tile leakage of the explosive stocks of the British Phosphate Commissioners. The instructions issued by the British Phosphate Commissioners in regard to the control of explosives and the efficiency of the methods of enforcing such instructions will receive special attention.
(2)
Consideration will be given
(a) to the possibility of arranging that the British Phosphate Commissioners shall obtain their Chinese recruits from Districts where more harmonious relationships prevail and
(b) to the possibility of limiting the number of Chinese workers
who are brought to Nauru having regard to the lonely situa- tion of this island and to the necessarily small amount of civil protection.
W.A.NEWMAN, Administrator.
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ORDINANCE No.3/1924
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1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Explosives Ordinance, 1924, and shall come into force on and from the first day of June, 1924.
2.
From and after the coming into force of this Ordinance, no person, firm or company shall import, keep or store, or be in actual or con- structive possession of any explosives of any nature whatsoever, unless the written permission of the Administrator has been first obtained.
3. All explosives shall be stored or kept in such place or places and in such quantities as shall be approved by the Administrator or Officer deputed by him.
4.
From and after the coming into force of this Ordinance, uo person, firm or company shall use or employ any explosives for the purooge of fishing.
5. Use of explosives for blasting purposes -
•
(1) Whenever explosives are being used for blasting purposes it shall be the duty of the competent person present, in actual charge of the work, bo see that all persons within the possible danger area, are duly warned by some system that is clearly and definitely understood by all concerned, and that all such persons are in safety before the fuses are lit, and that they are not permitted to leave the safety zone unless and until the person in charge has satisfied himself that all charges have been exploded or otherwise satisfactorily accounted for.
(2) Blasting operations within 150 yards of any road or path acces-
sible to the public are prohibited, unless in additionto the precautions prescribed in (1) above -
6.
(a) Such road or path is clear of traffic and the approaches guarded by a rod flag (or other suitable signal arrange- ments as may be approved, in writing, by the Administra- tor) well in view of any person approaching the danger area; such flag to be hoisted at least three minutes and not more than five minutes prior to the shot being fired, and to be taken down immediately the shot has bee fired.
(b) Notice-boards are erected at each approach to the danger
area with printed notices legibly painted thereon, in English and Nauruan, warning persons that they are not to pass beyond such notices whenever the red flag is flying.
Penalties for any breach or non-observance of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be a fine of not less then Five pounds and not more than Fifty pounds, and/or imprisonment, with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding six months.
Dated 17th May, 1924.
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age 9
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EXTRACT FROM Monthly Report No.6 of June, 1929, from the Administrator of
NAURU.
CHINESE DISTURBANCE 16th JUNE, 1929. For some time illfeeling has existed between the Sampan boys and the ordinary Coclies employed in raising the phosphate on this Island. The Sampan boys are recruited from Hongkong and other centres adjacent to the Chinese seaboard while the Coolies usually come from the country dis- tricts around Canton.
A few loud-spoken Chinese usually arrive with each batch of recruits and it has been observed that they endeavour to "transplant" to Nauru the atmosphere of unrest which seems to prevail in some portions of their homeland. These disturbers are, however, soon detected and promptly deported but occasionally they have time to become mischievous. The last recruitment (April 1929) included a few of these individuals. Some rumbling and miuor squabbling soon arose among the Chinese, but nothing of a serious nature occurred until Sunday afternoon 16th June when trouble was precipitated by a Sampan boy striking a Coolie and, as a result, an open rupture occurred be- tween the rival factions. The actual offender was arrested and punished but the parties were not disposed to let the matter rest. Instead, the two sections of the workers congregated in their respective compounds, on opposite sides of the road, and made angry overtures to one another; some of them armed themselves with weapons working tools (not firearms) and prepared for attack. promptitude and tact of the Police boys and the Chinese Liaison Officer an actual encounter was averted. When some semblance of order had been restored the local Management of the British Phosphate Commission- ers sought the aid of the Administration. The Administrator directed
-
mostly Through the
the ringleaders of each faction to attend a compulsory conference. About twenty Chinese attended at the Court House at 7 p.m. and the Administrator addressed the following remarks to them:-
G
the
"I have called you boys before me this evening because you are the recognized leaders of the two parties to t is dispute, the Sampan boys and the Coolies and I want you to realize your responsi- bility in the matter. You have informed me that you have no grievance against this Administration or against your employers British Phosphate Commissioners. You say that your quarrel is between yourselves. There should therefore be no difficulty in settling your troubles. The whole affair has arisen over a very trifling incident. Two boys had a fight, one boy was in the wrong because he struck the other boy first. The boy who was in the wrong has been punished and instead of leaving the matter there, you boys want to keep on squabbling over it. Now that is quite wrong, and, of course, I can't allow you to continue bahaving in this way.
"I want you to listen carefully while I tell you something. This Administration always sees that fair play is given to the Chinese workers on Nauru, that your conditions of working and living are satisfactory, and that your employers carry out strictly the terms of the agreement which you and your employers have signed in my presence. As Administrator of this Island I hold myself personally responsible for your welfare. I satisfy myself by personal inspec- tion that your work is not too heavy, that your food is good, that your pay is regular, that your health is safeguarded and that suitable recreations are provided for you. Every Thursday I devote the whole evening entirely to affairs connected with the welfare of the Chinese on this Island. As you know you are free on any Thursday evening to bring any matters to my notice and you are also provided with a re- liable Chinese who understands English in order that you may have no difficulties in putting your case before me. I don't think there is any place in the world where labourers work under such ideal condi- tions.
Every Chinese boy on this Island is known to me and I am always prepared to listen to any grievance or to help you with advice. I have the highest regard for the Chinese workers because generally speaking you are a splendid lot of hard working, law-abiding fellows.
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