STRANDING OF THE SCHOONER RAPID.

Wanganui Herald, Volume IV, Issue 878, 10 June 1870, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE SCHOONER RAPID.

The following1 award was made by James O. Woon, Esq., Collector

oi Customs:—

'I hat rhe stranding- of the schooner !?;i|iid appears, by the evidence, to b>ive heen cruised by the vessel being run ashore through stress of weather, having sprung a leak during a gale blowing from VV. N ,W. f whereby die became unseaworthy. That no blame appears to attach to the master, Dnniel Rae, or to the ere v, who seem to have done their best to enter the port or Wariganui, on Tuesday, 24th May, 1870. but failed to do so on account of tins vessel fetching to leeward of the bar, when the tide served to cross on that day. That the vessel appears to have been in a leaky condition, and as the consequence, being1 heavily laden, made bad weather during the gale, and heavy sea prevailing at the time. That finding the leak was gaining on. the vessel, and danger of her sinking would be incurred by trying to keep ta sen, or make for a place of shelter, she was run ashore as the only course open with a view to save the lives of those on board.

Encounter Between a House and a Serpent.—A Liverpool paper reports a singular fight between a horse and a serpent. A naturalist had a number of snakes and other interesting creatures on his premises, and one of the former, of the kind called "harlequins," found its way into an adjoining stable, and coiled itself round the horse which occupied it. A battle ensued, but with teeth and hoofs the horse contrived to kill his antagonist. Except a few marks on hit back, the horse was uninjured.

IMPORTEDiLiBOR. v .. (Front* tl»e Ev6mug Po*t) " xThe arrival at Auckland of v a vessel from the South Sea Islands; l>ring- - ing; a party of Kahakas--nominally coming of their own free-will—to work at a ' flax mill under engagement for a term of 3 ears, awakens some grave reflections. The intro--duction of labour of this description into Queensland had led to very untoward results, and has, in fact, been the means of inaugurating a species of slave trade, which has proved a disgrace alike to the Colonies andt<i ' the age we live in. The iDapnnW) affair is yet fresh in. men's "minds; and though the captain and owners of that craft escaped through the meshes of the law, there is no doubt they were guilty of trading in human flesh and blood. As yet, we have been happily free of all participation m this iniquitious traflic; but the importation of the islanders by the Lulu is introducing the; thinend of - the'wedge, and it behoves 11s to take - a look at home. Asking, us td beheve that these; ni«n came to' New Zealand of their own fr e « will j with a perfect knowledge of the cori-f. sequences of their action," is drawing/ too largely on our credulity^ ; 'Wknow how the influence of thechiefe can be secured by; a few jiiwttcidiiig ~ presents, and how the' unfortii-' nate Kanakas, under their control, can be placed on board snip| noi. knowing where they are going * prY for what, in the same manner sas hogs would be. In; feet, to call it by; 'its\_ true name, this practice is kid-i napping—neither more nor less— and if allowed in a British Colony; we deserve harder names jbaii saints of Exeter Hall apply 1 to [ us. Brit1 even ' granting that f these' islanders' comeI'voluntarily,- we fdo '■ not want ~such.immigrants,""and"' their introduction/ on 'a large scale would to one1 of the most mistaken systems we could adopt We hate seen the bad effects in Australia, and more so in America, which have followed the introduction of Chinese . to a large extent. Id both those countries efforts are continually being made to counteract the evil already^ inflicted, and to check its further spread, both on social and political grounds. Bad as the Chinese are, the South Sea savages are worse, and any extensive importation of them would have had a most pernicious effect, even were the country solely occupied by Europeans j but. when we consider what a large native population of our own we have, the evil is intensified. We have barbarism enough already—we require to import no more; and cheap labor of the most inferior description will be. a sorry acquisition when purchased at the price of retarding the civilization of the far nobler race we are compelled to take in hand. We trust the Government will take this "-. matter up, and frame an enactment prohibiting the importation under any pretences whatever' of natives from any of the South. Sea Islands. The 27 men already landed should be at once sent back, and an inquiry instituted into the circumstances under which they were "engaged/* and although the Daphne case broke down, we trust that there is still jus- ; tice enough left among the mass of laws which fill our statute book, to enable condign punishment to be awarded to those who may be found guilty of the nefarious practice of kindnapping. ■