THE DANGERS OF THE LABOUR TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6811, 15 September 1883, Page 5

THE DANGERS OF THE LABOUR TRADE.

The dangers of the labour trade are exemplified by the massacre of the crew of the Livinia, which we reported yesterday, and by the many similar events which have occurred of late years. Almost every vessel cruising amongst certain groups has a story of dangers to tell. By the last mail, Messrs. Coupland and Co., of Auckland,'the owners of the brigantine Oamaru, received from the master, Captain Goodman, an account of his cruise to the Solomon Island* and New Britain, which shows how much care has to be exercised. > The Oamaru obtained seventy-five tne> from ' the island of Malatta, in the Solomon Group, and on the 22ml of May anchored in a lagoon a few miles to the southward of Coleridge Bay. At six o'clock p.m. the vessel was discovered to be on fire. All hands were called, and it was promptly extinguished. It was found to have started in a coil of rope under the floor of the emigrants' deck. It was set on fire by some of the recruits, and as they began to Bhow signs of being troublesome, an armed watch was kept night and day. On the 29th of June came to an anchor in Coleridge Bay. Here obtained forty-eight recruits in eight hours, all able-bedied men belonging to a village on the mountain range dividing Coleridge Bay from Quiros Harbour, the scene of the Borealis and Janet Stuart massacres. At four p.m. a canoe came alongside, and commenced to pass e number of tomahawks and axes to the recuits on board. They were made to take them back, and the canoe was ordered off from the side. Shortly after, two recruits from the south end of the island came off, and stated that the new recruits had asked them all to join them in an attack on the vessel, the boats to be attacked on shore at the same time. Recalled the boats on board, hoisted them up, turned the recruits all below, and set a double armed watch. At midnight one recruit came on deck and sprang clean over board, and struck for the shore. The rest of the new recruits with a yell made a rush for the deck. They were forced bick at the cutlass point. A boat was lowered, and after a desperate fight brought the runaway on board. At four p.m. next day a light breeze sprang up. Left the bay for Isabel Island. Three of the recruits, who could speak English, stated that they intended to have served us as they did the Borealis, but we hud got them instead. . . On July 18th, at Bix p.m., found the belaying pins all drawn out of the racks round the decks, and stowed forward. A plan had been laid with the shore natives to come off in canoes and assist in attacking the vessel next day, when the boats wera away and the crew aloft bending sails, Kept them below next day, with an armed watch over them, while the boats were away. Sailed next day for Suva. Arrived in Suva August 30th, all well, all hands having been armed day and night for over sixty days, the Coleridge Bay natives being sullen, brutal, and obstinate in conduct the whole time on beard.