ISLAND NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5509, 14 July 1879, Page 6

ISLAND NEWS.

By the schooner Ovalau, from Samoa, we have papers to the 28th ult.: — The United Statea war-ship Lackawanna, Captain Chandler, arrived in harbour from Callao, via Marquesas. She left Callao on the 30th of April, and stayed two days ait the Marquesas ; moderate weather has been i experienced. The Lackawanna is a wooden full-rigged ship of 2220 tons displacement, ! and being built during the civil war in the United States, is fitted-up with the oldfashioned engines. She carries a complement of 173 men, independent of officers. The firm of Godeffroy and Son are erecting a large and magnificent building upon their premises at Sogi, the west end of the town, which, when finished, is intended for a cotton store-house and ginning establishment. It having been reported that the "Government" party were coming up to-day, ostensibly to pay a visit to the Lackawanna, but in reality to re-take possession of Muiinuu Point, the Meleatoa party were immediately on the qui vive. In a very short space of time there were upwards of 400 men on the Point, fully armed and equipped, as a guard to the King. Should the "Government" party attempt to re-take possession of the Point, they will receive a warm reception, and that interneciue war which we have been so long dreadiug, will commence at once. Fiji has commenced the export of cattle to Noumea. —By the Pannonia, Captain Kastel, the first shipment was made by Dr. Brower recently. That gentleman put fifty-two head on board, and the result of his venture will no doubt determine the question of consignments in the future. It is to be hoped, as well for the Bake of Br. Brower as for that of Fiji generally, that the experiment will prove successful. Mr. Moss appears to be aa unhappy in his experiences in Fiji as he wa3 in Auckland, if the following from the Fiji Argiut of the 20th ult., may be accepted as authoritative:— " Some little sensation was caused in town last week by the circulation of a report that a gentleman named Moss, who recently arrived from New Zealand with not the best of characters, had issued several valueless cheques, and then suddenly disappeared none knew where. It turned out to be true, and the police were at once communicated with. Officers were despatched all over the country, and strange to say, the culprit was arrested. He had proceeded to Suva with the intention of leaving for Melbourne by the Suva, and was only prevented from doing so by the inopportune arrival of Sergeant Senior, who informed him that several friends in Levuka were anxious to interview him. Moss preferred to let them wait, but the gallant sergeant thought it would be just as well if Moss returned, if only to say ' good-by.' He accordingly accompanied the officer back to Levuka, and, on arrival, was kindly accommodated with lodgingß in Seed's Hotel. In the course of a day or two be will be called upon to explain the reason of his sudden and ungrateful departure." The Fiji Times of the 28th ultimo, gives the following account of the proceedings at the Police j Court: —Before the Chief Police Magistrate on Wednesday last, David Moss was charged with having forged and uttered a cheque of the value of £7, with intent to defraud. In this case, it appeared that the prisoner, who was stopping at Carnarvon House, handed the proprietor, Mr. Lovell, a cheque for £7, purporting to be sigued by one W. B. Paton, saying that he was going away for a short time, and desired that Mr. Lovell would _ keep the change, if the cheque were paid, until ho returned. About daylight Dext morning the prisoner Btarted for Suva, in W. Analow's boat. On the morning of his departure Mr. Lovell took the cheque, which he believed to be a good one, to the bank, where it was presented, but, returned with the words on the back "no account." The accountant of the bank, Mr. T. J. Martin, who was examined, said no one of the name of W. B. Paton had had an account with the Bank. Mr. Dodd and Mr. D.. H. Smart, who also gave evidence on behalf of the prosecution said that a man of the name of R. T. Paton came and left by the Ovalau. Mr. P. S. Solomon, who : appeared for the prisoner, having reserved the defence, his Worship committed the prisoner for trial. The next charge against the same prisoner was then proceeded with. From the evidence adduced it appeared that the prisoner, being in want of change, wished to cash a cheque drawn by himself upon the Bank of New. Zealand. R. Moss, one of the witnesses for the prosecution, having informed him that Harry Day would cash the cheque, he immediately took a blank form from his pocket and wrote out a cheque for £7 2s 6d, and having received refreshments, &c., to the amount of 2s Gd and seven sovereigns in exchange for the same, left the hotel. Next morning Mr. Day took the cheque to the bank, bnt it was returned with "no account" marked on the back thereof. Mr. P. Solomon, for the prisoner, reserved the defence, and the prisoner was committed for trial. He was allowed bail himself in £100, and two sureties in £50 each, for his appearance at the Supreme Court on the 15th July next.

The Fiji Argus of the 20th ult. gives tho following particulars relative to the suicide of Mr. Cunningham, on the passage of the s.s. Gunga from Levuka to Sydney :—"We regret to state that a most melancholy occurrence happened on tho upward trip of the s.s. Gunga to Sydney. Mr. Cunningham, who was a passenger by that vessel from here, appeared to be in a very desponding Btate during the first part of the trip, and the day after the steamer had left Lord Howe's Island, the unfortunate gentleman seemed to have reached the climax of his morbid indisposition, for shortly before dinner he walked calmly on to the port side of the poop and deliberately leaped into the water. The steamer was instantly stopped, and a boat lowered.- The quartermaster at the wheel having seen the occurrence, gave the alarm, and also threw a life-buoy orer tho head of Mr. Cunningham, but he was observed to push the life-buoy vigorously away from him, and that all the boat found was the life-buoy and Mr. Cunningham's cap in the water. When last seen he threw up his hands and sank."