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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 222, 18 September 1868, Page 2

>. — The schooner Banshee has returned from the Fiji Islands to Dunedin, bringing a small cargo of oil and cotton and nine passengers. Amongst the latter were Messrs F. J. Moss, and W. N. Morton, late Inspector of Police. It seems that the natives were becoming very troublesome, and tbe boats of H.H.S. Challenger were dispatched up the river Rewa with sailors and marines. After firing a few shells, they landed at the village, and burnt several houses — a single Dative only being occasionally seen. Thinking the destruction was a sufficient warning not to be troublesome for the future, the boats returned down the river ; in doing so, they were fired upon from the scrub by a large number of natives, and a marine was shot through the lungs. A settler, named Creelman, who was also in the boats, received a gunshot wound, and died from its effects. The boats returned fire, and proceeded to their ship. As an indication of the number of natives killed, 42 sticks were sent to the kiug, which are said to correspond with the number killed in warfare. When the village was being bombarded and fired, the natives went back to some European settlements, and burned six houses, leaving some of the settlers entirely destitute. The Brisk had sailed for Sydney previous tb the attack. The Chary bd is, man-of-war, was shortly expected at the Fijis.. A committee has been appointed to enquire into the accusation against the Hon. C. E. Jones, .Minister of Railways in Victoria.