UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10414, 12 April 1897, Page 5

UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

A UTOPIAN COLONY. START OF NINETY-NINE VOYAGERS. Papers from California tell of the start of another foolish expedition on a " Socialist basis," the soeno of the projected colony this time being the South Seas. Wβ abridge the account io the San Francisco papers. It will be seen that the adventurers have a very hazy notion about Fiji and the South Seaa generally. The brig is named the Percy Edwards, and 99 men have sailed on board, only two of whom are married. Each has paid his 100 dollars into the treasury of the corporation, and has supplied his own outfit. Provisions for six months have been put aboard. Every man who sails with the Percy Edwards, from master to cook and from peak to aftercabin, is a member of the brotherhood. The crew numbers 16 all told—more than twice as many as the brig ever shipped before—but there are to be three shifts instead of two on this trip, and eight hours instead of 12 will constitute u day's work. The plan of the company has changed from the scheme of the oriirinator, a clever promoter named Reinhardt. One day reading an artido in a newspaper about a manless isle in the southern seas Reinhardt and C. W. Opdyelie suggested an expedition to the place. Reinhardt hired a room on Mis-sion-street and Rtive out word that he was formine an expedition of men to become husbands to these dusky queens of the tropics. He knew nothing of the Pacific Islss, but he had a large imagination and a KJib tongue. First lie used only hie imagination, then he procured a map, and finally obtained a bonk describing a voyoge among the islands. He relieved his overworked imagination by reading from the book to those who asked for information about the expedition. When about 15men had gathered around Reinhardt and Opdycke they murmured at Reinhardt's dictation, and with such effect that afterwards his control waned until it was lost altogether. Opdycke is poor, and could not gather the money to pay his share, hence he is not one of the 99 on the brig. Reinhardt i 3 on board the Percy Edwards, but not in authority. And the destination of the vessel is not one of the manlcss isles of the sea.

Atwood says that the arrangements for the expedition were made with order and decorum. The articles of incoruoratiou were drawn with care. Applicants for stock were investigated by a committee, to the end that the lazy, thedrunken.and thodissoluteshould be excluded. Many applications were rejected. Some purchasers of stock paid 52 dollars, some CO dollars, some 80 dollars, and some paid 100 dollars. Of the total sum collected 2000 dollars was paid for the brig Percy Edwards, and 900 dollars was the cost of fitting her for sea. The cost of edibles for the voyage was 1600 dollars. For 600 dollars were purchased calico, showy jewellery, and trinkets, for use in trading among the island people. The remainder, with the exception of 200 dollars, was spent for agricultural implements, seeds, sewing machines, guns, and ammunition, for the use of the colonists when they shall have found a new home. The 200 dollars is the cash capital of the corporation atill in the treasury. Several oi the adventurers took musical instruments, violins, banjos, and guitars. The destination is Levuka, one of the Fiji croup of islands, via Honolulu and Suva. The company bears a letter from Her Britannic Majesty's Consul-General here to the British Governor of the islands. The information Riven the adventurers to Levuka is that the island is about the size of Maryland, with wooded mountains, rich in minerals plains of fertile soil. True it is that only two men of tho 99 have ever been in the islands of the Pacific, but if the information is meagre tho hope is great. Atwood says that no attempt to take forcible possession of any lands willibe made. The company will treat with the proper authorities, and pay the natives for the land. The native population of Levuka is sparse, according to the two travelled men of the 99, and there is no preponderance of women. Among the 99 there are no men older than 50 years, and few older than 30. The majority are German by birth or descent, but, with the exception of two or three, all are citizens of the United States. Anions them are two professional men, one a German doctor, a ripe soholar and a merry man of tho world, the other a teacher, holding a life diploma of this State, formerly a resident of Modock county. Aliners, fanners, carpenters, blacksmiths, tailors are amoug the 98; in fact, every trade except the shoemaker's is represented, The spirit of adventure, rather than the struggle for bread in this country, seems to animate them to make this strange voyage. Yet one of them gave a sordid reason for his departure yesterday as the vessel was about to sail.

With the buoyant hope that is the characteristic! quality of these adventurers, they told their attorney that so soon as they should have established their colony they would want others to join them—families instead of single men—so they have authorised him to sell stock in the company whenever they inform him they are ready for more colonists. If Levuka should not suit them, they will sail to other lands, following the sun in the chase for adventure and for a home where kindly nature requires little effort of man to induce her to give food and shelter,