LATER FROM FIJI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 25, 15 July 1871, Page 15

LATER FROM FIJI.

♦ • We have received files of the “ Fiji Times” to June 17, from which we make the following extracts : OUTRAGE BY NATIVES AND NOVEL TRIAL. Mr Wilkinson’s hired laborers, men from Dama, who were employed on Lo kuba, Bua, having taken offence at some imaginary grievance, burned to the ground the plantation cotton-house, and were proceeding to commit other outrages, but were fortunately pacified, but not before they had commenced to destroy the dwelling house, thoroughly alarming > Mrs Wilkinson with their threats and savage conduct. Here is another instance of-how the “ harmless Fijian” will actunder an imaginary grievance, and of what treatment oiir wives and children (Mrs W. was accompanied by four children) may expect to meet from this race, who, according to some, are never to give us any trouble, treat them as we may. On the 16th of May the culprits were brought to trial before

:a mixed Court. Messrs Otway and Beaven sat, with the native chief ’magistrate. The wrong done was admitted by the men, and reasons assigned by them in justification, which were at once scouted by the Court. Two of the men we sentenced to four years labor, one of them to three years’ labor, and the remaining fifteen to two years labor. Mr Wilkinson is to be re-couped m what the prisoners might earn, to the amount of tbe loss. The magistrates would have liked to have administered the lash also, but the Buan law on the point appeared rather obscure, and, as .one of the great objects in view is to teach the natives the supremacy of law under all circumstances, the thrashing they s.o richly deserved, in addition to their term of servitude, was not administered to the fellows. ACCIDENT TO A PLANTATION MANAGER. An accident occurred here'a few days ago to Mr Scott, the plantation manager to Messrs Wilson, Hamilton, and Co. It appears that Mr Scott had borrowed a loaded gun from one of the natives to shoot a fowl, and after discharging it the hammer broke off, striking him ■heavily on the shoulders, and, rebund-, ing, inflicted a nasty wound on the bridge of the nose. Captain Lessing, of the Harriet Armitage, applied the necessary remedies, and he is now recovering fast. - This ought to act as a •caution to white men using guns belonging to the natives, as they invariably put in a double charge of powder. ARRIVAL OF NATIVE WARRIORS. On June 16, tbe troops who arrived •on the pievious evening bytheJeanie Duncan, from Angua, paraded the beach at Levuka in force, fully armed .and accoutred according to Fijian notions. They were well ornamented with paint, and presented themselves before the King, to whom, as is the Fijian custom, they protested their loyalty. Lovoni is their destination, and before many days they will take vtheir departure for the seat of war. appointment of a government. . Cakobau has appointed an Execulive 'Council, which was inaugurated with great demonstrations by armed natives. The members of it are :—Sydney Chas. Burt, Premier and Minister of Finance ; Lieutenant Woods (of New Zealand), Minister of the Interior; John Temple Sagar (of Adelaide), Minister of Trade vand Commerce ; Ratu Savrnca (Cako,ban’s son), Minister of Native Affairs ; Ratu Timoci(Cakobau’s brother), Minister of War; and James C. Smith and Gustav us Henniugs, members of the Executive without office. The new Government has already exhibited indications of an intention to carry things with a high hand. The white population has protested, and it is very doubtful whether the new Government will be .able to exercise any authority over the European population.