BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3905, 30 August 1875, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Greymouth, August 2i». The Otreo sailed f«.r Melbourne last night with 7,246(iz of gold, the produce of tho Grey and Tuangahua goldfields, aud 3,7120z shipped from Hokitika.

Invercargill, August 29. A meeting, convened by the Mayor, to consider the question of abolition, was held last night, when a resolution in favor of referring the question to the constituencies, was carried by a small majority. The meeting was rather rowdy towards its conclusion. The irrepressible Jock Graham was present, occupying the time of the meeting and speaking on abolition.

Auckland, August 29. The immigrants by the Dover Castle, landed on the Quaiantine Island, are progressing favorably. No fresh cases are reported.

{From our own Correspondents.)

Riverton, August GO. A meeting convened by the Mayor r,o consider the 'question of abolition wan held here on Saturday night. A resolution was proposed by Dr Hodgfcinson that the Bill he referred to constituencies, when an amendment was proposed that the meeting endorses the principle of abolition. On a further amendment, in favor of immediate abolition being put, the meeting got so rowdy that the voting could not be taken by a show of bauds, so they bad to divide, when ten voted for immediate abolition, seventeen for the first amendment, and twentyfour for the motion ; but as those who voted for the first amendment voted also for the second the result may be put down as twentyfour to seventeen. Provincialism has found a champion in the irrepressible Jock Graham, who has been stumping the district lately. He occupied a considerable portion of the time of the meeting on Saturday, holding forth against abolition and rallying a mob round him at the division.

Lawrence, August 30. The libel case r against the ‘Times’ is now being heard before E. H. Carew, Esq., K.M. Mr J. Copland, who appears for the complainant, occupied an hour in his opening address, and witnesses are now being heard--1.08 p.m.—for the complainant as to character. Mr E. H. M‘Coy is for the defence. It is almost certain that the prosecution will fail, although M r Copland says bis client will take the case to the Supreme Court if defeated.

Queenstown, August 30. A woman named Kate Walders, servant in the Diggers’ Best Hotel, Arthur’s Point, has been remanded for further examination for one week on a charge of child murder. She alleges miscarriage. The body has not been ound.

murder OF COMMODORE good ENOUGH.

Auckland, AugustfSO. • lie Hero hos.arnved from Sydney. News has been received from the Santa Cruz group of islands, to the north of the New Hebrides, of the murder of Commodore Goodenough and two seamen of H.M.S, Pearl on that Island.

The following is the official report of the circumstances connected with the melancholy eventOn the 12th of August the Pearl was off Carlisle Bay, Santa Cm/. Island, and leaving the ship in the offing, the Commodore landed, accompanied by some of the officers and crew, in the hopes of cor dilating the Natives and opening friendly intercourse with their. The latter assembled in goodly numbers on the beach, and accepted presents in an apparently friendly spirit, and wore willing to barter. The Commodore and others then entered the village, and for some time mixed freely with the Natives, who showed no signs of hostility until preparation was being made to embark. While the Commodore and one or two others remained near the village a native standing near shot an arrow, which struck the Coramodoie in the side, and before any arms—all of which were in the boat-—could be reached, several flights of arrows were discharged at the party, wounding live men and the Commodore again slightly—this second time in the head. A few rifles and revolvers were tired to stop the attack, which was entirely unprovoked, and one native fell. The Commodore determined, after returning to the ship, that he would show his disapproval of this treachery by simply burning the houses of the village, and most explicit orders were given that no life should be taken, he directing blank cartridge to be fired to warn the Natives previous to the men landing. It is impossible to assign any certain cause for this sudden attack, though it may perhaps be accounted for by supposing constant hostility to the visits of strangers to exist in the minds of these particular islanders, who have shown almost the same spirit to vessels visiting them from the time of Mondana till now. The hostility was probably provoked by some previous outrage committed by white men, and this opinion being held by the Commodore, induced him to punish them in the alight manner in which he did. Grc.it surprise was folt at this hostility of the inhabitants of fjanta Cruz, as the natives of the islands of Ambryo, Malficolio, St. Bartholomew, Spiritu Santo, and Vamkoro, had received the visits of the Commodore and his officers in a friendly maimer; and although the natives of a few villages showed in some oases strange shyness and timidity, nevertheless mutual confidence had been quickly established in most of them. The Pearl at once proceeded southward, as the cooler climate would be more favorable to the wounded, of whom there were five in addition to the Commodore. Having touched at Mota, in [tanks’ group, to leave directions forH.M.S. Nymph should she call there, the Pearl proceeded towards Sydney. For the first few days the wounded were all doing well, and great hopes were entertained that they would recover; but after five days symptoms of tetanus appealed in three cases, which gradually increased, and on Thursday night one seaman, named Edward Rayner, who had received an arrow wound in the shoulder, died. On the next evening (Friday, August 20) at 5.30 p.m., Commodore Goodenougli died; and early the follewing morning a seaman named Frederick Small followed. He had received several wounds in the head. The other three wounded are doing well. Commodore Goodenough in his closing hours showed the greatest resignation and Christian fortitude, apologising to his officers for giving them so much trouble, directing that no undue severity should be dealt out to the natives, and regretting that his failing strength would not permit bin; to praise God enough for all his meicies. •