FIJIAN NEWS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1657, 6 March 1884, Page 2

FIJIAN NEWS.

The steamer Penguin arrived from Fiji on 26th February, and from newspaper files received by her the following items are supplied : — Captain GKbbs, of the three-masted schooner Fairlie, reports having arrived at St; MattHias; on iJece'niber' 16 j put two boats ashore at a small island eastward of St. Matthias, the Government agent being in one of the boats ; at five p.m. the second boatsteerer returned and made the following report: — Finding a number of natives on the beach at the south-east end of the island, anchored the boats and had dinner. After dinner covering boat lay off. A native stole some biscuits f rant second mate's boat, who fired a shot from his revolver into the water. The natives were very frightened, and ran into the bush, but shortly returned, armed with spears, and, attacking the boats, two of the crew received spear wounds in the head. Mr Hose, Government Agent, and the second mate, were both mortally wounded, the body of the second mate being studded with, spears, and falling into the boat. The second boat was backed in, and took all on board, with the exce2)tion of the second mate, of whose body they could iiot get possesion, nor of the boat ammunition, or trade. On arrival' d£ the boat along side" the ship Mr Rose was found to be dead. The point of the spear, which had penetrated the left side below the heart, was extracted. The Suva Times gives an instance of the callous indifference shown by Fijians to any sense of humanity. Four Europeans who were boating were precipitated into the water by their craft capsizing. "The whole affair was witnessed from the shore, by natives, and a canoe was at once put off, not to rescue the drowning, but simply to ascertain what amount would be paid for so doing. The drowning men offered £5, or at the rate of £1 per mau, to be put ashore on the canoe ; but the amount was not large enough, and the gentle Christians put back without having lent a helping hand." At a church meeting at Suva a letter was read from the Bishop of London, and the following resolution was passed : — " That the meeting concurs in the ojHnion of His Lord- j ship the Bishop of London -with respect to placing the church in Fiji under the charge of the Bishop of Auckland."