THE WESLEYAN MISSION AT THE DUKE OF YORK ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4852, 5 June 1877, Page 4

THE WESLEYAN MISSION AT THE DUKE OF YORK ISLAND.

We published some few days ago, from information derived from a passenger from Samoa, an account of the killing of a trader at Duke of York Island, where the Wesleyan. Mission, so bravely founded by the Kev. George Brown, of Auckland, is established. A letter wus received in town yesterday from Mrs. Brown, dated Sydney, May 17, which contained only the following allusion to the subject :—" We had news yesterday. There hus been some trouble, not connected with tho teachers but with the traders." The i-!/d"i'i/ Town and Country Journal of tho 19th May contains the following aeeouut of the affair :—" A letter has been received by the Kev. George Brown, from the new Wesleyan Mission Station, at the Duke of. York. Islands, situated between New Ireland and Xew Britain, in which are detailed the circumstances of the barbarous murder of a settler and teacher's wifo by the natives. It appears from the correspondent's letter that a trader named Jainieson, in connection with the German firm, Goddcfroi Brothers, was at Port Weber, Duke of York Island, when some dispute aroso between him and the islanders ; and on the 19th of January the natives attacked bis house aud murdered him in the most brutal manner, stealing all his goods and wrecking the whole place. The correspondent (Mr. Levisou) started From the mission for the house on hearing of the murder, and made search for some nativo teachers who were there. On nearing the house, he stepped iuto a native trap, set with spears, and was severely wounded on the foot and the thigh. The mission house and church were burnt down by the natives during the disturbance ; the correspondent's station aud house were aho destroyed byfire, but have since been re-erected. One of the native teacher's wives, Bruno, was poisoned by one of the Xogai natives, a hostile tribe. These disasters have occasioned great trouble, as indicating further acts of violence aud rapine by the native.-', and the station was consequently broken up. Since murdering Jmniesou, tho natives have become very saucy, and there is apparently much trouble browing for all or. the island." The Rev. Mr. Brown and his family left Sydney fur tiie Duke of Vork I.sluud on May IS iu the mission brig John Wesley, and it :s hoped that his presence ou the scene of the above - mentioned disturbance will restore peace aiming the natives. Ou the Wednesday previous, a valedictory meeting was held iu Bourkestreet Wesleyan Church, at which the chairman, the Kev. B. Chapman, General Secretary of the AustralasianWcsleyan Missionary Society, in the course of his remarks, saia Mr. Brown had 10115 been anxious to get back to the mission teachers, not having lu-ard from them ; but this day he had received, via Samoa, a letter from a German g.utlemau engaged iu mercantile pursuits among the islands, which, however, on account of a certain degree of ambiguity, b.uig written by a foreigner, rather aggravate 1 than soothed the intensity of hi 3 feelings. The John Wesley would leave the port on Friday next, -Mr. aud Mrs. lirown being passengers, aud would take Samoa and" Fiji rn ruute, from which places the Uo.ird of Missions had authorised Mr. Brown to strengthi-n his mission betaking a dozen more native teachers. Mr. Brown's many friends in Auckland will look for the next news from the mission field >vith great anxiety.