FURTHER. MASSACRES AT THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 139, 13 December 1881, Page 2

FURTHER. MASSACRES AT THE NEW HEBRIDES.

[By Tej,e<jraph.] i united miesB association. j Auckland, 12th Docomber. A lotter to Major Mair (jives the following dotails of the murder of hia brother, Mr. H. A. Mair, of tho schooner Isabella, at Santo, New iHebridoa,*)n 12th nit. : —Mr. Mair and the mate, and four Fijians of tho Isabolla, left the vessel that morning for tho purpoao of recruiting labour, and tho boat was in Bight in shore till half-past 11 o'clock, when it went behind some rooks. Hero, as was subsequently ascertained from survivori, two men were rearnitod, and a third was being arranged for when an attack was made. Mr. Mair was struck with a tomahawk on the right shoulder, but immediately shot the man who wounded him. He was then strnok with a tomahawk on the other shoulder, and knocked oTorboard out of tho boat, surrounded and killed. The mate and two Fijiana w<re also killed. Tho other two Fijians wero wounded, but suoooeded in escaping. They swam off to tho vessel, which was lying at anohor fonr miles off. In the evening, finding that Mr. Mair's boat did not return to tho Isabella, Captain Hawkins sent another boat in starch of him, but it was fired at, and returned to the ship. The next day the boats of the Isabella, with the assistance of tho crews of three vessels in tho neighbourhood, went in, and the natives again fired on them, and retreated to the hills. Upon landing, tho Isabella's boat was found hauled up in the bush, an on a further search being made tho mutilated remains of Mr. Mair were found. There were now four vessels in harbour, and the crews assembled and Captain Hawkins read the burial service over the remains, whiok were buried in a coffin with a quantity of quicklime.