NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2021, 16 August 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

AUCKLAND, August 16. Railway Employees. At a meeting of the railway employees on Saturday evening tho chairman announced that a petition, signed by 200 employees, had been forwarded to Wellington praying the Government to reconsider the 10 per centred uction. Skirmish at Api Island—A Plucky Fijian Boy-

The Southern Cross, from Fiji, brings news of a native attack on the sehooner Lovuka on the 15th ult. She had on board one Native of Api, New Hebridees, who wag to bo left at home on the way, the vessel being bound for tho Salomons, with seventy-three time-expired laborers. The ship’s boat went ashore in charge of Mr Nichols, Government agent, Stewart Fraser, the mate, and a crew of Salomon Islanders. The Natives seemed friendly and warned Nichols not to go to the village or up the coast, as there had been a skirmish with some Frenchmen there shortly before. He, however, was told ho might go to a nearer place, and thinking it desirable to make enquiries, on arriving at the spot indicated the boat was grounded on the beach, though none of its occupants quitted it. Suddenly about 100 guns, loaded with ball, wore fired at the boat, killing Stewart Fraser, who was shot to tho heart, four bullets having passed through him. Mr Nichols was hit by five bullets, one through the shoulder and two through each leg. One of the crew of the boat of Solomon Islanders, had one of his thigh bones shattered by a bullet, and ho is now lying in the Hospital at Lovuka in a hopeless condition. A Fijian named Johnny had two bullets through one of hia legs. The other two Solomon Islanders who wore in the boat jumped overboard and swam towards the vessel and the Api natives then rushed towards the boat, evidently with the view of capturing its occupants. The only firearm in the boat was a Snider rifle, as the place being so well known to coasters os one accessible for obtaining wood and water, and tho great majority of tho Natives speaking English or Fijian, no danger was apprehended, on the Apian natives approaching tho boat, the Fijian boy Johnny, half wounded though ha was, jumped out, seized the rifle and fired it without aiming. This stopped the rush, and tho Fiji boy then, single handed, shoved the boat from tho shore amidst a shower of bullets, and sculled her towards the vessel. Captain Jones at once bore up for Havannah harbor for assistance and advice from tho white residents there. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 16. The Rowena and Forest Queen. The following are fuller particulars re the stranded steamer Rowena. She left Waitara wharf on Saturday, at two o’clock, with ten passengers and a cargo of sheep for Manukau,

having in tow the ketch Forest Queen, for Wellington. As she was crossing the bar a heavy sea struck the steamer, washing away one of her boats, which is lost, and causing her towline to get foul of her propeller. The steamer, being helpless, cast the ketch adrift, and was driven to the north of the spit, the ketch grounding on the north side of the Waitara river. The captain of the Forest Queen lot go an anchor, which kept her in position, but the tide wag out, and each wave caused her to bump on the beach. An effort was made to get the steamer afloat, but it was fruitless, as the tide was running out. The sheep and passengers were landed just after the Bowena went ashore. A fireman on board of her was taken suddenly ill, and before he could be brought ashore he died. His name is Bailey and he belongs to Auckland, having a wife and two children living there. An attempt was to be made to get the vessel off this morning. An inquest on the body of the fireman is to be held to-day, WELLINGTON, August IG. Detained on a Telegram. Matthew Henderson, of Christchurch, was charged at the Police Court to-day with wife desertion. The counsel for the defence contended that the prisoner could not be detained on a telegram, and quoted authorities in support. His Worship remanded the caae, to consider the points raised.

AUCKLAND, August 14. Pedestrianism. In the seven mile walking match between A. Hendry and Thos. Fernandez for £IOO, the latter won by one hundred yards in sixty-six minutes twenty-one seconds. The match excited great interest. The betting was 3 to 1 on Hendry up to the fourth mile, and a large amount of money changed hands. In the mile handicap there wore eight competitors, and it was won by Forside. The Late Boat AccidentOf the men who were drowned at Dargaville, T. J. Wilson and Wm. Allwright had both filled up proposals for insurance in the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company some months ago, but had failed to pay the premium thereon. Expected Arrival of PriestsNegotiations ara said to be on the eve of completion for the purchase of Newton kirk and and manse, adjoining Dr. Wallis’, M.H.R., for £15.000, by the Boman Catholics, for Father Sullivan and other Benedictine priests expected to arrive shortly. August 15. Run Over by a Train-

At the inquest on Duncan Livingstone, who died from the effects of an accident at the railway station, Fapakura, a verdict of “accidental death” was returned, and a rider that no blame was attachable to the railway officials. The evidence showed that deceased had been drinking, and being prevented on that account by the station master from boarding the up-country tram for his home at Fukekoe, ho had after dark laid down between the station platform and rails to sleep. He was aweke by the passing of the down goods train which did not stop at the station, and had instinctively put out his legs on the rails when the last carriage went over them. H-M'S. Wolverine. The b.b. Southern Cross has arrived from Levuka, bringing dates to the Bth. H.M.S. Wolverine arrived in Levuka on the sth from Tadwini. She struck on a reef at the N.E. N.E. end of Garo. She is said to be considerably damaged and had 6it. of water in her hold, and was reported to be making 3(t, per hour. New Society Journal. A new society journal, “ The Observer,” to be published here early in September. It is to be conducted on the lines of the wellknown society journals at home, which have been so successful, and will be illustrated with portraits of colonial celebrities and caricatures of well-known local worthies. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 15. Two Vessels AshoreWhile the steamer Kowena was towing the schooner Forest Queen out of the Waitara River yesterday she went ashore on the North Spit, and the Forest Queen got beached to the northward of the river. A sea struck the Kowena when on the bar, carrying away the tow rope and quarter boat, and both vessels then went ashore. WELLINGTON, August 15. ObituaryMr Ireland, M.H.K. for Waikaia, died at seven this morning. He had been ailing for some time, but was in the House on Thursday. The same night he consulted his medical adviser, and on the following day was taken seriously ill and has been confined to his bod since. The supposed cause of death was heart disease and congestion of the lungs. DUNEDIN, August Id. Police Items. At the City Court, William Henry Felton was charged with stealing a cheque for £IOO, under peculiar circumstances. The prosecutor, George Worsdell, and he met at Milton, where they had been gambling together. Worsdell and a young woman to whom Felton was engaged travelled by train from Milton, and at the Dunedin station were joined by Felton. It is alleged that Felton got possession of the cheque while prosecutor was drunk and cashed it. The case was remanded till Monday. The charge against George McGustie and Thomas Taylor for keeping an illicit still at Blueskin was also remanded till Wednesday.