THE LATEST OUTRAGE AT THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5440, 22 July 1879, Page 3

THE LATEST OUTRAGE AT THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.

The schooner Pacific, Captain Davis, from the Solomon Islands, brought to Sydney the tidings of another horrible murder at a place where the natives have hitherto been considered the most friendly in the group. The victim is a trader named Charles Halget, and it appears that on the 14th April he was in charge of Captain Ferguson's station on the island of Marau. The Ripple, steamer, had left the place on the day previous to the murder and all was quiet, the trader being in possession of a full supply of trade. The news of the affair was reported to Captain Davis by a native boy, who waa an eye-witness, and stated that the king of the island (a well-known man) was the first to strike a blow against the harmless trader, and no provocation was given.

The king's followers also fell upon their victim, mutilated his body, cut the he.™ off, and threw the remains into a hole, from which it was recovered by Captain Davis, and buried^at sea. The natives afterwards proceeded to ransack the traders' land, and stole nearly all tha trade. What little remained,- comprising three goats, some sugar, rice, and two trade chests, were taken fey Captain Davis, and handed' over to Mr John Stephens, at the island' of Ugie. The natives cf this particular place have hitherto been friendly during a trading intercourse of many years, and the traders that have been in communication with the placd have np to the present considered themselves pretty secure.