A TALE OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8405, 5 November 1890, Page 6

A TALE OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC.

Repeated illustrations (says the Fiji Times) have been afforded of what may be done under the Western Pacific Orders in Council, and how injustice may be perpetrated by their means. The most recent example is afforded by the case of a Mr. Edmunds, to whose arrest and conveyance to this colony by H.M.s. Cordelia, we referred in a recent issue. The following are the particulars: — On the 30th of August last Mr. Edmunds, being then engaged in his ordinary business, was arrested at a place called Nusn Songa, an island in the Western Pacific not under the jurisdiction of any civilised Power. The warrant was issued by Captain Grenfell, in virtue of his position as a" Deputy Commissioner of the Western Pacific." It should be stated that Mr, Edmunds is ci native of France, but that, in.lSSl, he was accorded a certificate of naturalisation in Sydney. This granted to him " all the rights and capacities within the colony of New South Wales of a natural born British subject," his naturalisation being, as is usual in such cases, confined to the colony in which it was conferred. Mr. Edmunds was charged (1) with shooting at a native of Chiritnbye and causing his death ; ('2) with shooting at other natives with intent to do them bodily harm, an act likely to excite the natives to a breach of the public peace; (3) with having unlawfully caused to be tied up a chief ot Chirimbye named Evooloo, an act that was likely to excite the natives to a breach of the public pence." On his arrival in Fiji Mr. Edmunds was lodged in gaol by virtue of a warrant issued by the Registrar of the Supreme Court, and was released therefrom in a few days—a nolle prosequi having been filed, The main charge, that of murder, was made by a native 1 under the following circumstances. We quote from a petition presented by Mr. Edmunds to the High Commissioner, in which he prayed for compensation : "Your petitioner was arrested on the strength of a statement made by one Mule Kopa, which statement was made in the absence of your petitioner, who was never confronted with the said Mule Kopa, but who verily believes that the statement of the said Mule Kopa was suborned by a chief named Toolo, with, whom your petitioner was not on amicable terms. And your petitioner says that the statement of the said Mule Kopa, in so far as it refers to tho allegation that Rosen, the person declared to ' have been shot and buried at sea' is altogether false, and that no such person was shot, and that the allegation of his death is absolutely false and that lie is still alive and can be produced, and could have been produced if proper inquiry had been madA at th*. place where his death is said to Imve taken place." So much for tho foundation of the proceedings. Mr. Edmunds furnishes the following explanation of the whole affair : —" On the 27th of June last, whilst anchored in a small deep bay on tho north-east coast of Lavella Island, known by the name of ' Chirimbye,' a native told me that they intended to kill the Lord Howe boy for the next feast, which would be in a month or so. Tho boy himself had on several occasions asked me to take him to his home. Should I have done so it would have been said that I had stolen the boy. However, on this occasion when I heard that they were going to kill him I asked the chief to let him off not to kill him. That if he (the chief) liked I would pay him for the boy, and that I would take him home; and forthwith I brought on deck 151b of tobacco, 20 yards of dungaree, two hatchets and one dozen of handkerchiefs, the same being sufficient payment for two or even three boys in their way. , This the chief seemed inclined to accept, but others were telling him to refuse it. Then I said, " You shall not kill the boy ; 1 will protect him and take him to his home and relations." Thereupon most of the natives left the ship, to make what seemed to me preparations to attack the ship. I then told the chief, " You must stop on board until I get clear of the bay, and then a canoe will come and take you on shore." As the bay was very narrow, and some of the natives armed with what seemed to me to be firearms and spears were making for the bush for the purpose of coming abreast of the ship. I saw then how they meant to attack us (and also the chief saw it) who then made an attempt to go away, but whom I detained until I got underway. When I got outside, seeing that no canoe came, I lowered my boat and landed himatapointabouthalf amile further down, together with tho payment for the boy and also payment for the inconvenience oi having been detained. During the time

three or four shots were fired at the bush abreast of the ship to keep off the natives from coming there. The above is a full and true account of what happened." This is confirmed by a person named George Messenger, who was brought to Fiji by the Cordelia as a Crown witness, and who appended the following certificate to Mr. Edmunds' statement: — "I, the undersigned, acting mate of the schooner Magic, hereby declare that the above is a full ano' true account of what happened. In proof thereof I sign my name." This document bears date 12th July. The offence of which Mr. Edmunds was guilty lies i;.i a nutshell. He rescued a boy from being killed and eaten, and took defensive measures for his security and that of his vessel. For this, he is arrested, brought to Fiji, sent to goal and then released without examination or trial. His vessel, which cost him some £1200 or £1300, is of necessity left to the tender mercies of the natives at Nusu Soga; his stock-in-trade ashore is in like plight; under the most favourable circumstances he cannot be at his trading station again in less than five months from the date of his deportation therefrom ; he has been put to legal snd other expenses, and his compensation, so far as the department of the High Com missioner is concerned, is—nil. Some slight recognition of the truth that he has been hardly dealt with has been extended by the fact that he has been accorded a passage to Sydney on board the Cordelia. Wimt course may be taken on arrival at that port is as yet an open question. It will be worthy of notice, however, whatever it may be, and will be awaited with considerable interest by those who have known and respected Mr. Edmunds for very wary years.