FIJI.

Dunstan Times, Issue 373, 18 June 1869, Page 3

FIJI.

A corespondent to tbs “Melbourne Argus” sends the following attack ilpon a plantation

“Mr, Waterston, a planter who lives at a place called Nakoroqaqa, has, with his wife and family, been brutally clubbed by the natives of a town called Buremudu. A Mr. Murray, who was staying with him, seems to be badly hurt, and it is feared that he has received some internal injury. It appears that these natives have long been annoying Mr. Waterston, and the Fijians themselves say that he has been very forbearing with them. The immediate cause of the cowardly attack was the refusal of Mrs. Waterston to buy a lot of taro which one of the Buremudu people had brought for sale. The man was very abusive to her, and Mr. Waterston coming home at the time, expnstu ated with him, warning him that he would put up with no more such conduct. The man flourished his tomahawk, and dared Mr. Waterston to do his worst, who being thereby provoked beyond endurance, made a quick step forward, and struck him a blow in the eye which knocked him head over heels. Thu man then went to his town, whence h e presently returned with some fifteen or sixteen others, all armed, and made a savage attack upon the planter’s family. Mrs. Waterston was knocked down and severely beaten, though she was saved from many blows by a Fijian of another tribe, who was working about the place, and who threw himself upon her, thus warding off the club strokes. The wife of another planter, who was in the house, was also knocked down and beaten, as were also two of the children, one of them an infant. The two elder children escaped, their mother having shoutedtothemto run. Mr. Waterston was knocked down, clubbed, kicked, and trampled upon with such savage ferocity that it is a wonder that he escaped with his life;but he seems to be a “ tough customer, ” and is now going about his work as usual, though stiff' and sore, and full of aches and pains. Boor Mr. Murray, a mild, inoffensive sort of man, went down and sank under the first blow; and his cowardly assailants struck him repeatedly as he lay on the ground. “ This affair has caused much surprise, as Mr. Watcrston’s plantation is not more than some twelve miles from Bau, and no one thought that the natives there would make auy disturbance at present, especially as affairs have lately been taking a very favorable turn with Thakomban, the powerful kingdom of Hakiraki, which has been for some time secretly favoring his enemies, supplying them with ammunition, &c., having Gtclared in his favour in truly Fijian fashion, by enticing two chiefs of Favosa down from the mountains, and murdering them infold blood. “The king has sent for the Buremudu people, ana it is hoped that he will make a severe example of them.”