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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 293, 11 December 1877, Page 4

The following telegram dated Sydney November 20, appears in the Post :— Newa by the gunboat Sandfly, from the South Sea Islands, gives particulars of the attack by natives of St. Chriatoval on the crew of the Marion Kenny a Fiji labor vessel. The depositions of the Government agent of the schooner on board tha Sandfly are to the effect that the mete landed on the 21et of October with a boafe'a crew at Maroo Bay, St. Christoval, and procured some oocoaouts; also, thai the agent sent some native immigrants ashore on that day and the next 6o bathe. Hearing screams in the buah on the afternon of the 22nd, he ran in the direction of the sounds, and met the mate running to the beach with a spear through his back, pursued by natives. Two recruits were also badly wounded, but the whole party managed to reach the boats. The mate was also riddled with arrows, and was dying in great agony when the Sandfly aailed. The verdict of the inquiry was that the attaot was provoked by the immigrants taking coooanuta without previous payment.