Fijian Matters.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 172, 9 July 1894, Page 3

Fijian Matters.

Severe Fighting.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.]

Auckland, This Day.

News from Fiji by the steamer Ovalau contains particulars of a rather serious native disturbance. Governor Thurston and an armed foroe proceeded to the scene of the revolt and settled the affair in a very short time. It was found, however, that the rioters had murdered several natives and committed acts of cannibalism besides making sacrifices to gods. The Orlando arrived at Suva on June 3rd. The native town where tho disturbance took place is situated on the Drekoli river, Vanua Devu Island. As the Government force marched in they surprised a party of natives engaged in their ceremonial. The next day the force advanced on the town where the hostile Fijians were entrenched. The natives refusing to surrender, the force attacked, using rifles, and soon carried the place after a sharp fight. The Government force .had four wounded. Seven of the rebels were killed. Tho rest of the insurgent garrison escaped to the mountains. Two men were killed by leaping from a precipice. The force found the bodies of the two men murdered on the sth inst., partly dismembered, portions of the bodies having been eaten, lb was ascertained these acts of cannibalism had been committed in order to propiate the heathen deities. Two priests had stirred up the natives to revolt. Governor Thurston decided to concentrate the disaffected natives into 3 or 4 large towns.