NEWS FROM THE ISLANDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10263, 22 January 1895, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE ISLANDS.

A EUROPEAN KILLED BY A TONGAN.

Auckland, January It,

Correspondence from Nukualofa, Tonga! trader date January 7, states that the New Year was ushered in by a most lamentable event at Haap&i. Several young people— Europeans and natives—were ushering in tlie New Year with the customary rejoicings when a diupu>. arose between a young native, Jiale Veni, and Samuel Lowe, a young man, some 28 years of. age, a carpentsr and builder in Haapai. Tho native, it is alleged, rushed at Lowe with a heavy stone and struck him violently on the head, death resulting in about an hour. This unfortunate occurrence has caused a great sensation, the young King being deeply grieved. It is the first instance in which a European has been killed by a Tongan, and is the more to ba regretted as the passion which resulted in tho fatal crime was brought about by intoxicating liquor. The laws of the kingdom of Tonga and tha regulations of the High Commissioner's Court prohibit the supplying of intoxicating liquors to natives. The Deputy-commissioner and Britiah C»nsul (Mr R. B. Lcefe) has exerted every effort to stop the evil, but without success. Possibly this fatal event and many other outrages, though of a lesser nature, which have occurred of late owing to the spread of drinking habits, may cause the law to be more strictly enforced in future. Mr Leefe proceeds to Haapai in a day or two, with the Chief Justice, to attend at the trial of tho culprit. Tho deceased Lowe belonged to Auckland, and has relatives residing at Arch Hill. He came down to the Friendly group about a year ago.