FRIGHTFUL MASSACRE AT THE FIJI ISLANDS. (From the Levuka Gazette, February 15.)

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 142, 5 April 1873, Page 2

FRIGHTFUL MASSACRE AT THE FIJI ISLANDS. (From the Levuka Gazette, February 15.)

By the arrival of the Pride of VitJ, which came into port on Thursday morning last, the full particulars have at length arrived of the late frightful tragedy on the Ba river. Uews arrived in Lovuka last week of this truly horrible occurrence ; but it was still hoped that it would turn out to be one of the tales the natives are so fond of circulating, and that) though, perhaps founded on fact the particulars Airnished might turn out to be in the main untrue. However, the details brought by the steamer leave no doubt that a horrible murder has been committed ; and the only question now (and it is to be feared that it will prove a very grave problem to solve) is,, how effectually to check the repetition of such, lnghtful occurrences and at the same time to so arrange matters with the least possible effusion of blood, for in all the interests of humanity each m&n, ono and all, must naturally wish not for blind, brutal, blood-thirsty vengeance, but for speedy, strong, and effectual justice. The circumstances of tho outrage can bo briefly told, and perhaps it is w ell not to linger too long on the sickening dotails. From all that ran be gathered, the mountaineers who had threatened Mr Burns many times came down in force to the number of about 200, and concealed themselves in the cotton during the night. Mr Bums when proceeding to call his labour in the mornun^pas rushed and almost instantly tomahawked. The murderers seemed to have divided, and while part attacked the labour — massacring twenty-one of them — the remainder attacked the house. Mi s Burns and her threo children were brutally slaughtered, their bodies being covered with wounds, and every article of furniture, fitting, or anything of tho sort iv the houso was utterly smashed and ruined by the insensate race of these blood-intoxicated semi-deiuous. One of the labourers, a T.inna man, fled to the plantation of Mr Macintosh about three mile 9 distant and gave tlio alarm. That gentleman immediately despatched his two overseers, with 30 or 40 armed labourers, to tho scone, whe.e they arrived iust iv time to save the bodies from becoming the material for a cannibal debauch. The bodies of the unfortunate labourers, however, by tho mutilation they had sustained, showed too plainly the work of man-eaters, and portions of their corpses have no doubt figured in the horrible orgies of these devil-worshippers. An inquest was held on the remains, and a verdict returned to the effect that the unfortunate deceased were murdered by the Kai Colos, together with a rider strongly censuring the Q-overumont for their late action, to which the neighbouring settlers, qu'te disregarding the previous threats of the mountaineers, which date o%cr a period of about two years, ascribe then* melancholy fate. The greatest excitement prevails throughout tho district, and the settlers haye — as one mnn — collected to defend tho remaining residents of the Ba. When the news first reached Levnka an excited public meeting was held, and a small force left on Saturday night — personal friends of Mr John JBcrry, who was tlion iv town — to defend his house and goods from outrage. On Sunday, Lieutenant Pritchavd, with a few whites and about fifty or sixty native troops, left for tho scone of action, and the Minister for Native Affairs has smco followed. Tho G-overnment are straining every nerve, and mustering all the forces at their disposal, besides calling for volunteers to protect tho lives cf the settlers, as well as to punish the atrocious miscreants who ha\e committed this awful crime ; and it is sincerely to be hoped that party differences will not be allowed to hinder them m tlieir ughlcous Wl'llth .

Mr Thomas Robinson, the English manager of a spinning establishment at Loth, in Belgium, ha 9 boon murdered by a workman named Isidore Biesmana, whom he had discharged. Entering the parlour of Mr Robinson's house, Btesnun* drew from under his coat a short gun and fired at Mr Robinson, who fell dead on the spot, the ball having struck him m tho region of the heart. The murderer then took to (light. Oenlarmes were sent out to innLe reßei" - chcs and Bueuerolpd in orrpiting him nt *«sehe.