FIJI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 16, 13 May 1871, Page 3

FIJI.

[Fiji Times.] horrible discovery. A gentleman from Nadi tells us that the native teacher at Momi informed him of the finding of the trunk of a white man. The natives discovered it in the sand on the. beach of Malola. DEATH OF A NATIVE CHIEF. We learn that Rabi Rabi, the chief of the Ra coast, has met death at the hands of his subjects. He was the “ big chief” of that coast. the hurricane at bevia. Mr G M‘Kissack, of the Ringdove, tells us that in passing some of the islands of the Yasawas Group, he noticed the fearful effects of the late hurricane. Cocoanut trees have been torn down and broken off in all directions, and bananas and bread fruits completely blown away. The natives say that at Bevia all the poultry have been blown off the island. native labor. We learn from Yuna Point that a rather serious misunderstanding has arisen lately between a few of the planters there and their Fijian laborers. It appears that some planters have conceived the idea of urging the men to sign for a second year’s engagement after their first had expired, and at the end of the term promising to return them to the “ buzzums” of their families. The natives did not “ see it,” and the consequence has been a regular stampede of the sable people, and an almost general panic amongst the Fijian laborers on the Point. SHONTING CASE. . Monday, the 90th ultimo Miller, the chief of the half-castes, in company with a settler, left his house for the purpose of examining a damaged boat. At the time Miller was considerably the worse of liquor. Kiernan, part owner of the Flying Fox, cutter, came forward near to Miller’s boatshed, and, in the settler’s presence, threatened to shoot the first man who went on board his cutter. On which Miller called some half-castes who were in the shed, and, with them, pulled off to the cutter. It seems that Kiernan was owing Miller a a balance of account for repairs and other work done to the vessel from time to time; and there is no doubt that this circumstance wasthe cause of the outrage which immediately followed. Miller’s boat reached the cutter first, closely followed by Kiernanin his dingy. When he got on hoard he requested Miller to leave the vessel, and upon refusal he fired the revolver into Miller’s face, who immediately fell overboard, followed by Kiernan in the grasp of a half-caste. Kiernan struck out for the shore, closely followed by several half-castes. Before reaching the shore they overtook him, and commenced to beat him in a violent manner, and before several witnesses, who were overawed by numbers from rendering any assistance. Miller, who in the meantime had been lost in view, here appeared, and exhibited an extraordinary amount of vitality, abusing Kiernan most volubly, although laboring under the infliction of a cut tongue, broken jaw, and nearly toothless mouth; and notwithstanding his great loss of blood, struck Kiernan several heavy blows, and knocked him into the water. Both men appeared now to have become exhausted, and were taken to Miller’s house, which was close at hand. Dr Clark, who was on board all this time, and who had also been beaten by the half-castes, was quickly in attendance on the two men, from whom the blood was flowing most copiously. At the time the alarm was given, Miller’s wife and also Captain Jones, of the Van Tromp, swam off to the cutter, in the hope of preventing the row assuming serious dimensions, but were too late to effect such an object. The whole tran-

saction did not oceupy more than five minutes. Kiernan was soon afterwards removed to Dr Clark’s house, where, by last advices by the Van Tromp, he was slowly recovering. Miller was brought to Yagadace by the Flying Fox, under the care of Dr Clark. Dr Ryley is attending him since his arrival. We learn that Miller is progessing favorably, and that Kiernan is convalescent.