FIJI NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 30, 4 February 1878, Page 4

FIJI NEWS.

An Auckland telegram to the Post gives the following items of news from the Fijis : — The schooner Norval, from Samoa, briDgß later news. The Government schooner Elizabeth has left for Tatuhia, taking with her some 300 native warriors and eome field pieces, together with some considerable quantities of ammunition for the purpose of exterminating Manga and his party j but if they should succeed they will have to fight hard, and the bloodshed will be greater than ever known in any previous war. That, at least, is the opinion of the old hands. — Sir Arthur Gordon, Governor of Fiji, has sent a letter to Taunau and Taipule, stating that he is sorry to bear they are at war, but advises them to givo it. up and live in peace among themselves. He also states that he has received the Queen's reply to the letter sent by the chiefs of Samoa, and asks them to call all the chiefs together during the first week in February, when he will be there and brinj? the reply with him. — During the labor cruiee of the Maryana Renny she landed Bix returned labourers on the east coast of Malayta, and recruited one immigrant. She anchored in a good little harbor in a small island called lob, half a mile off the main island of Malayta. She landed two recruited immigrants, ahd the natives of the place were holding a fenst when they arrived, at which there were a uumber of natives from the maiu island. On the 14tb, at 8 a.m. screams were heard proceeding from the back of the village, and on enquiry the crew were informed that a man had been killed* The body, which was seen by some on board, was that of a robußt young man about 24 years of age, who was in perfect health and vigor. He had received a deep tomahawk cut on his head across the right ear, also a dopp incised wound on his right thigh, several deep ones ou his back, one of which had cut the backbone in two. His hands and feet were tied together, and a pole rove through for carrying. The body wns covered with green leaves. That night at the end of the feasf, the body was cooked and eaten. All the pigs in the village ha.l been eaten, so ihat (his was a bonnebouche at the eud of (he feast. On the 21st anchored at Miroi Bay, St. Christovai, close to Capo Recherche. On the 220d, whilst part of the immigrants were ashore, who hnd been landed for the purpose of bathinj, an attack was rao.'le on the mate of too vessel, Ayleß, and Ihe immigrants, by natives. Ayies received four spe:tr wounds ; one of the immigrants na.netl Cottolia was killed, and two other immigrants received wounJs on the back. Captain Haddock, who was on the beach with a gun, hearing screams issuing from the bush, immediately rushed in and met Ayles, who rushed out pursued by hostile native*. Ayles was calling out to Haddock to pull the spear out of his back. Captain Haddock told him to hurry aboard, and then fired at the natives, who quickly retired, which allowed the immigrants who were in the bush to get out. On the immigrants being mustered, Cootolia was found missing. It would had been useless to go aßhore to recover the body, as natives were in numbers \

and protected by bußb. Some natives i were chased along the beach. A small settlement containing a few houses was burnt, and the canoe broken up.