ITEMS FROM THE ISLANDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 297, 15 December 1877, Page 4

ITEMS FROM THE ISLANDS.

[Auckland Star],

By the arrival of the ketch Pearl this morning, we are in possession of the following interesting items of news from Samoa, 1 New and Hebrides, Norfolk Island.

Whed we last heard of the Canterbury she had just left Apia for Savage Island, with what object was not well undcratood. :■ A day or two before the Pearl left she had returned, and her report reveals some curious transactions. Two or three days after sailing from Apia, a serious leak was discovered, and as there appeared no chance of stopping it, the Captain, with Mr Hunt's approval, bore up for Tutulia, which port was made in safety. Arrived there, the captain immediately called a survey, which was held by the local storekeeper,' who pronounced the vessel unseaworthy and condemned her. He also ordered her to be sold by auction for the benefit of whom it may concern. The sale was held, and attended by two or three niggers, in addition to the crew of the vessel. The captain became the purchaser for 121 dollars — not so dear — it being arranged thai be and Hunt should become partners in the transaction. Immediately after the sale the vessel was got under weigh and returned to Samoa, where the captain circulated the story of the cruise, adding that he was now the owner of the vessel. Hunt suggested that " part owner " would be more correct, but the captain being aware that Hudt had no proofs of partnership declined to admit Eh is, and insisted that he waa sole owner. In other words he threw his partner over. When the Pearl left, Hunt was going; about like a raging lion, invoking all manner of Vengeance on the head of the captain, and swearing that the sale was not a legal one. The most singular part of the story is that before the Canterbury left Samoa it was commonly reported that she would be condemned and sold, and even the name of the island where the sale would take place was mentioned. The Flirt was a long time overdue at Apia, and her return from the Line Islands wa« eagerly Iwoked for, At Havanuah harbor the Pearl wag in company with the missionary schooner Dayapring. The captain warned Captain Harrison against going to the islands further north, as he bad lately been fired upon by the natives at two or three places. The women of the New Hebrides are by no means good looking, at any rate from a European point of view. They are by no means so careful of hiding their charms as the men natives are of concealing the women from the eyes of Europeans. At Vati, when the Pearl arrived tbere, a large number of cauoea came off to the vessel. When a short distance from the side, a commotion of Borne kind was visible among the canoe?, and it was at length seen that the men were huddling all the women into one canoe. This was accomplished, and two men paddled them back to the. shore. When the natives came on board, one of the Pearl's crew asked one of the chiefs why they did not bring the women on board with them. He replied "No good ; " from which we leave our readers to infer what they like. | At another island, a boat's crew of the Pearl taking a ramble inland, found a whole lot of womea guarded by three men. They had been sent there when the Pearl showed signs of communicating with the island. la figure these women are hideous. They have skinny legs and arms, their knees and elbows being the thickest part of their limbs. Their breasts hang down sometimes to the length of fully half a a yard. Latest reports from Norfolk laland in reference to the drought are of a serious character. There had been no rain for three months when the Pearl left, and the cattle were dying in ail directions. Their bodies are found on all the roads. The same absence of rain 19 reported from almost all the places at which the Pearl stopped. The successful catch of whales last season has been marred at the finish by two fatal accidents, which have shed a gloom over the island. At the iatter end of October, while a boat's crew were engaged *' cutting ia" a whale, the knife suddenly slipped, and almost sliced the leg off a poor fellow named Jacob Christian, who is well-known in Auckland, as well as in Norfolk Island. The doctor, after examining the injury, pronounced amputation necessary ; but this the patient declined to Bubmit to. The consequence was that in a few days mortification set in, and deaib. followed soon after. The other accident was a most extraordinary one. One of the boats was out eariy in November, and made fast to a cow whale at sundown. The monster had a calf with tier, and before the crew could do anything to prevent such a catastrophe the bereaved young one stove ia the boat with a blow of its tail. The whole of the sis hands were precipitated in the water. The boat filled and settled down, with her guowhale level with She water. The men succeeded in getting hold, and although it was blowing hard all n'ght, and there was a heavy sea on, they managed to keep themselves afloat for eighteen hours. One poor fellow whose name was Isaac Christian, and who, singularly enough, was an uncle of the unfortunate man alluded to ia the other accident, was taken with cramp in the middle of the nigiu. His son waa also in the boat,

and with the strength of filial love this young hero kept his father's head above water throughout the long hours of that fearful night. A boat was sent from the island after dark, but it did not succeed in reaching the ship* wrecked party. It returned towards midnight, and the little community were kept in a state of apprehension all night. Towards morning another boat was sent out, which after a long search, came upon the drifting; and almost exhausted whalers. They were taken into the boat, and conveyed ashore at once. Old Christian was, however, quite dead: Two of the survivors were seriously ill for some days, but ultimately all recovered.

The special correspondent of the O&maru Mail thus dtacouraeth on Mr Mandera M.H.R :— Mr Manders is growing quite portly on the good treatment he is receiveing at the hands of the Opposition. There waa a time when his present benefactors scarcely deigned to look aS him; but matters now wear an altered aspect. It is said that he holds the balance of power between parties in the House it will be seen that the country's destinies are at his mercy. He must feel somewhat like the proverbial beggar on horseback, although, for the sake of those members of the softer ccx who depend upon him for their happiness, we trust that he will not ride where the exalted beggar rode. Instead of the late Ministers Bxclaimiug you see that fellow; that is Manders," and with a significant shrug of the ahouJdars, more eloquent, than words, passing him by as they would dirfc, they now say, "Good morning, Mr Manders; you're looking worried this morning." [So would they if they had two strings to their bows.] " Dear me, your bands are quite hot. You must really take a" drive before lunch. Not had any breakfast ? How shameful. Come with us and partake of the refreshment that you so urgeutly require, and we will then go the the House together." They seem in constant dread least he should die, or some other calamity should befall him. Just as though such men as Maaders were of the dying sort. If be is seea looking towards the Governraout benches, it is a signal for a rush towards him in order to ascertain what his political feelings were at the moment he glanced thereat, and whether he would not like to adjourn to Bellamy's, where a man can drown remorsefuiness in the nectar cup; where qualms of conscience are smothered, and political opinions become pliable. "It is there, it is there " that sweet solace can be found from domestic troubles and the exigencies of political strife.