Murder of a Settler at the Islands

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 102, 27 October 1897, Page 2

Murder of a Settler at the Islands

The I'iteat contribution to the scroll of New Hebrides ina'caures come* from Aolii, an island overrun by fit-rce bnsh tribes. The island rf curds give Aoba a bad rißinc, and dpeakiu^ generally it is one ot the most avoided places in t bat part of the Pacific. But a trader went there some time since to establish himself, and if poKmblfl lrjjrariate hiai>elf into the good opinion >t ilio Aoba nntiven, with the mi-lanchol.v result that ho was brut* ally murdered. This is the elerpnlh muHer which the New Hebrides has to its <ji«creclU v. ichin lh« piec«oor<t of yearsHMS. Tauranga went to Aoba poon after (he outr igf» war reported and at tbe village clone to which Mr England (the tnuidered tn^n'*) station was, landed a party. A hot pursuit took place, for the Tauranga men were determined to have toiuething more than firing deserted shnnlie?. They mnde things *o warm that th« natives surrendered, and the chief and his two sons were taken. Several villages were fired, and it is said that this villainouH and unapproachable island has received n touch needed lesson. The cheif and his boys will be tried by the joint (British nnd French) commission, and will probably be deported to some other island. Mr England had settled in the group some years ago, and had, in spite of advice, decided to try Aoba, believing that he would find as loyal natives as he had traded with in Aneityum. He whs well known in Sydney, where formerly resided.