MUTINY AT BAKER'S ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2376, 6 September 1871, Page 3

MUTINY AT BAKER'S ISLAND.

TnE v barque Robert, loaded witli guano from Baker's Island for Cork, which put into this port for repairs recently, briugs lis tidings of'a mutiny amougst tlie Kanaka labourers employed in loading vessels. Tliis occurrence took placc on the Ist July when the Robert was lying off the Island. On that day the Kanakas came off with a lighter load of guano, and after shoving a few bags on the stage, said that as it was 6 o'clock, they would work no longer, and immediately jumped overboard and swam ashore —a distance of 500 yards. It appears that Baker's Island is in charge of a Capt. Snow, who has with him four Europeaus. The uumbor of Kauaka labourers is ninety, and some eight Chinamen act a3 cooks. On the morning after the strike described above, the manager's assistant came on board, and stated that the Island was in a state of mutiny, and requested that in a case of need assistance might bo sent ashore. Captain Lanfaro went ashore at once and saw the condition of affairs, and the same day a German barque arrived, on board of which were some firearms. These, consisting of 7 muskets, 9 pistols, 2 revolvers, as well as 7 sabres, were purchased by Capt. Snow and taken ashore. Ko work was done that day by the Kanakas, and they began to make preparations for resistance. At sundown the crews of the vessels passed the Kanakas houses to go on board, when a drum was beaten and shots fired at them, but no further attempt was made to molest them and they regained their boats- Going on board a call was made for -volunteers to protect the Europeans, and the entire crews came forward. Two officers and three men from cach vessel went ashore and remained all night. On the 3rd day the party went armed to the Kanaka barracks, and Capt. Snow ordered ten of the ringleaders to go up to his house. They refused to obey, whereupon two were seized and secured. The gang on the wharf then knocked off woric and started for the houses, and in the meantime the mutineers hoistod a flag calling in the field hands. A threat of being fired at, however, drove them back. Ten of the ringleaders were then put in irons, and finally 53 of the most turbulent were secured in irons and made fast to a chain, and kept in the same position until the next- day. Search was made for arms, and 2 muskets, 12 pistols, two of which wore revolvers, 3 sabres, 3 boarding pikes, 2 whale lances, 2 harpoons, a pair of grains, 150 rounds of ball cartridge, 10 lbs. of powder, and a quantity of slugs, sheath knives, &c., were collected and taken to the Superintendent's house. There was also discovered a document written in Kanaka containing a 3ketch of their plan, which was to kill the Europeans, take the boats and leave the Island. On the 4th day the hands agreed 'to turn to again, and were let out under a promise that they would give no more trouble. A prison was constructed, into which 12 of them were put with a view to their being forwarded to Honolulu for triul by a schooner expected on the 20th July* Those Kanakas are engaged in Honolulu for a term of two years, at 10 dollars a month. After all was over, some of these fellows told the crew of the Robert that, if no more vessels ! came in, they intended to carry out their murderous designs, and it was feared that they might do so, as they probably had a further supply of arms buried in the ground. As usual in such cases it waß discovered that those upon whom Capt. Snow placed most reliance were amongst the wora of the traitors.