LATEST FROM FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 561, 27 October 1871, Page 2

LATEST FROM FIJI.

CAPTURE AND BONING- OP A TO>VN.

Feom Leruta wa^re files to the 7th of o Theer»»«M ITOB the pubJ°iued acCOUUfc °f On t,H■ "ight of the 19th September, at 12 o'olp-^i an expedition of twenty-fivo men, 0 ,'nposed principally of settlers from Raid fiaki, Tavua, and the Ba, with a few volunteers of the previous expedition, slarted from the house of Mr. D'Este, Tavua, to attack the Kai Colo town of Natugerre, and to make reprisals for the two separate attacks of its inhabitants on the house of Messrs. Gall and Abbott. The night was pitch dart, and the difficulties of the road, always great, were consequently much increased. Fortunately Mr. Gall, who acted us guide, was able to keep the track unerringly without any loss of time. Still, such were the difll allies of the road, that although the.town w;\s only twelve miles distant from the starting point, Tavu», it was five o'clock a.m. before the expedition came in sight of the town, then distant, about 400 yards. Without any delay Mr. D'Msto, who commanded the expedition, brought up such of the volunteers as were armed with breech-loaders to the front, and preserving as much order as the very difficult nature of the ground would permit, charged with the whole of the purly into the town. It was a coinpleio surprise, not a single native being visible as the party entered the street. A voll uy discliar ed into some of the houses had the effect of rousing (he inhabitants, who ru-hed into the street, where a few (s x in number) were shot dead. The party proceeded ut a double down the street, driving the natives before them out of the town, and up the scrubby cn-ek which flows close by. •In this si-rub eight natives were shot dead, and here also they betjan to return the fire of the volunteers. After proceeding about 100 yur.ls up the cr ek, Mr. D'K-te thought it advisable to recall the men, as the nature of the ground prevented them from keeping together, and the danger of an ambuscade was not to be overlooked. Returning into the town, the houses, twenty-two in number, were searched and finally burnt to the ground. The parly remained about one hour in the town, and employed the.nselves in destroying the tara beds, and shooting the pigs wWinh were stiayinj about. These Litter were thrown into the flames of the burning houses and burnt,. About 7 o'clock a in. the parly darted on their return to Tuvua. At the fliftanoe of about two miles from town, on a sidling hill a li'.tle on the right flank, nbout half-a-dozen natives suddenly appeared wit in seventy yards of the column, firing into the head of it, one bullet striking the barrel of Mr. Berry's rifle, and slightly injuring it. This wa-i their first and lust atluc«. Their fire Was returned, and they quickly disappeared over thecr.st of the hill, leaving the volunteers to prrsue their march back to 'fa vim unmolested, after having achieved what is considered by the settlers mid natives on the coast, a most unqualified success. From the accounts subsequently received, it. appears that twenty one natives, including the chief of the town, were killed ; the number ol wounded is not known, but it is believe I to be great. The expedition returned to Tavuu at midday, having been twelve hours absent. — Sydney Herald.