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Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 920, 8 July 1871, Page 2

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We have received, via Auckland, files of the Fiji Times to the 27th ulfc.,from. v which we make the following, extracts :— On the Ist ult., Captain J. Carroll, of the cutter Vivandiere, was accidentally drowned in the harbor. A small theatre has been erected at the rear of the Criterion Hotel, Levuka.. The stage is 20ft by 35ft. On the Bth ult., a party of Levukan natives surprised a party of Loyoni people, mosnyTrqmuu, wUu wei*6~~fiahvng atrHakuruku, and after a desperate fight, killed five of them. Their bodies were hacked, to pieces. ■"- At Rewa, on the Bth of May, a severe hailstorm occurred just before dark. ; The hailstones, our informant tells us, were about the size of a two-franc piece. This is rather an unusual visitation for Fiji.. By the John Wesley, barque, which arrived on the 24th May, the Wesleyan Mission has received along looked for addition to the number of its ministers in Fiji. The District meeting will be held at Ban next week for the transaction of v connectional business. The meeting will be attended by the recently arrived ministers, and also by the missionaries resident in Fiji. Improvements are taking place in Levuka, which, when completed, will add alike to its appearance and convenience. We notice that the energetic proprietor of Keyse Hotel is carrying out a wharf,*which promises to be a substantial struc- •>. ture, and is in such a position that small craft will be able to lie alongside any tide to discharge or take in cargo. Added to this, he has at considerable expense laid water on from towards the head of the Levuka Creek, and boats will be able to come alongside the jetty, and have their casks filled from the hose. The lights (beacons) were lighted the first time — after several trials—permanently on the 11th ultimo, and will be exhibited every night from 6 p.m. to 5 :-• a.m., until further notice. The beacons, painted with red diamonds on a white ground, are placed a little south of the Wesleyan Mission House, and can be i plainly seen in day time from eight to ten miles off. The lights (temporary) are first-class steamers' red lights, visible about five miles. The beacons or lighter; in one will bring' a vessel, through the' centre of the Levuka passage. It is expected that the permanent lights of much greater power, will arrive by first steamer from Sydney. The position of the lights was fixed,! after careful survey, by Lieutenant Woods, R.N., attached to the Admiralty Survey Department, andQapt, Armstrong, R.N. ": .V A murderous assault was committed on the 21st May, by a Sandwich man, upon ■ a well-known planter, who was taking some eight recently-imported labourers down to his plantation. There were two gentlemen in the boat (a small green painted schooner), and two natives, besides the eight Sandwich men. One of the gentlemen seeing a half-hatchet lying forward, and^ thinking that it was possible the natives might use it against ' them, mo red it aft. A Sandwich maii * crept aft and got hold of the hatchet and took it forward, ostensibly for the pur- . pose of busking a nnt with it The gentleman went forward, and was attacked by the Sandwich man, who struck him a severe blow on the shoulder, thereby inflicting a nasty wound. The eight Sandwich men then rushed towards the crew and the two whites, when the four, of * them jumped overboard and struck but for the shore, a distance of over a mile away. This occurred when just off Cape Horn. The wounded man swain' park of the way unaided, and theu one of the native crew assisted him the rest of the way. On reaching the shore he was . brought to Levuka, where every attention was paid him; and now we are

1./■■■ happy - ./■■■- happy to say he is progressing rapidly, the wound not being at all serious. The last seen of the Sandwich men on the Bchooner was on Sunday evening, when they appeared to be going in the direction of Vanua Levu. On Thursday, the 4th May, on the plantation of Messrs Thomas, Franklin, and Langford, at Waimamu, whilst the white men were at breakfast, the imported laborers on the place came to the house, and Btated that the Fijians had driven them off from thoir work. The three planters then got arms, and, with the imported laborers, went to the Fijians, and ordered them off the ground. Instead of leaving, however, the Fijians surrounded the whites, disarming Thomas and Franklin ; but Langford warned them off, or he would fire on them. He snapped his pistol twice, and before he could attempt again the Fijians seized him from behind. The three white men were kicked and beaten, until a native officer interfered, and ordered his fellow-countrymen to abstain from any further violence. The Fijians then fired off the guns, &c, which the white men had brought, and escorted the settlers home, saying that they had been aßgry, but it was all over now. The natives then left. On the following Saturday morning a meeting of settlers was held at Navousa, at which they were present about twenty-four white men. Seven men out of the twenty-six who had committed the outrage were found. Two of them were sentenced to receive fifty lashes, and the other five to three years' banishment. They were placed on board a boat on Saturday, but effected their escape on the Sunday evening, although had been handcuffed in couples, and the odd one chained and locked up by himself. The handcuffs, &c., were found next day in Totoga. One pound each reward has been offered for their recapture. The chief has promised to give the other offenders fifty lashes each " when he catches them."