NATIVE QUTEAGES IN FIJI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1098, 19 August 1871, Page 2

NATIVE QUTEAGES IN FIJI.

MURDER OF MESSES. M'INTOSH AND SPIERS. We take the following particulars of the murder of Messrs. Spiers and Mcintosh from jfche Fiji Gazette: — July 10.

It is with very painful feelings I write to give you the particulars of the horrible deaths of Messrs. Mcintosh and Spiers, who were barbarously murdered by the mountaineers on the bank of the river yesterday. Yesterday morning the deceased gentlemen, in a boat, proceeded up the river to a small spot they had often visited before to fish, accompanied by three Solomon Islanders, their servants. During the afternoon they were beckoned to the shore by a party of natives, who invited them to land and have some food. As they had often met these natives before to buy yams and taro from them, sometimes to the number of 200, and having no suspicion of treachery, they went to the shore and landed, Mr Mclntos h taking with him his gun, and Mr Spiels leaving his in the bo;>t. The Three Solomon Island men remained in the boat where the unfortunate gentlemen lac ded. The bank of the river is steep, but they ascended it, and soon disappeared from view of the boat. Almost immediately afterwards the report of a gun was heard, and the men left the boat to see what the firing was, and no sooner mounted the bank than they saw their masters lying on the ground, and the natives dancing around them, one having Mr Mcintosh's shirt and gun in his hand. The wretches then made a rush for the boat, but the Solomon Islanders were too quick for them, and one having gained it, took up Mr Spier's gun and presented it at them. It was not loaded, nor capped, nevertheless the mountaineers would not face it, turned tail and ran away. The boat then returned, and the men related the sad news.

Immediately on having heard of the horrible deed, accompanied by six whites, and a number of Fijimen, I proceeded up the river to search for the bodies. Oa arriving at Mr Burn's plantation, I met some Fijimen carrying the remains of Mr Mcintosh, tied up in leaves, and slung to a pole. They laid the corpse down, and we examined it. There was a large gash on the left side the head, at the back of the ear, and a piece cut out of the left cheek. Two shot wounds were in the body, and the arms and legs had been cut off. The body was cut through at the small of the back, from which the bowels were protruding. There were some entrails, bits of flesh, and a piece of bone from the shoulder blade, separate. And these were strewn on the ground. Ail the clothes and the gun had been taken away. We then proceeded to the scene of the murder and found Mr Spiers' body lying on the ground. The unfortunate gentleman had evidently been clubbed ; the back part of his head was quite soft, and the skull broken to pieces. I think after he was dead they cut his throat and took out the windpipe and tongue, for we found them lying on the ground near the bodies. His right hand arid thumbs were much cut, and his legs cut off at the hips. He also had a shot wound in the shoulders. They had taken everything but his shirt, and the rest of his clothes were gone. The ground on which the murders were committed was where Messrs. Oliver and Mcintosh had often been before to buy yams and taro, and had met them there in hundreds, always in the most friendly way. It was purchased by Messrs. Mcintosh, Spiers, and Go. some time since, and was on the boundary of Muir's and Connolly's laud. On the latter land we found scattered a quantity of entrails and bones. These we collected and buried under a niouod the murderers had raised to mark the spot. The bodies we brought down to Mcintosh and Perkins' plantation. We held an iuquest over them, and buried them in one grave. We have written to Tavua and Nandy Bay to ask assistance to search out, and punish these dreadful murderers, for none of us feel safe. They told Mr Burns whom they have threatened to attack, as he has a large quantity pf goods and no house to leave them in, that there was no notice taken of their murder of Mr Baker, and they bad no fear of doing the same again. We hope you will do what you can to enlist sympathy for us, and get some assistance from Levuka The greatest excitement prevails. Tar Bau has promised to send mca to catch the

murderers, if he has the co-operation of the white men. The natives say they are only a small tribe, and could easily he taken. They also say that they are the same men that killed Baker. I will furnish you further particulars by next opportunity. P.S. —A Fijian has just returned from the mountains, who says that the moun? taineers told him they came down to kilt Mr Burns and take away his goods.