LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 48, 23 December 1871, Page 9

LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Wo take the following items from our latest Australian files :

The arrival of the barque Reconnaissance at Sydney, says the “ Empire/’ from the Islands, brings the sad tidings of another massacre at Fiji, in this instance on board the schooner Cambria, in the harbor of Levuka, the victims being young Thorpe, step son of the master of the Cambria, and a person from the shore, named Pu!ford. The Cambria recently reached Levuka from the Solomon Islands, having on board six natives, her former master, James Meldrum, having been murdered at the Solomons. The vessel is one of a numerous fleet which have been commissioned and fitted out for what is termed “ labor voyages,” better known as ‘ blackbird catching.” From the few particulars Captain Watson was able to gather as he was leaving Levuka, it appears that some of the Solomon Islanders on board the Cambria were flogged on the 13th November. The vessel was anchored within a short distance of the Reconnaissance, and at night young Thorpe, aged 17 years, and Mr Pulford, from Poulton’s store, Levuka, were placed on board to keep watch, and were armed. Captain Watson was on the deck of his vessel about 1 o’clock on the morning of the 14th, but heard

no alarm given, the wind being in the direction of the shore. Some people there, it is said, heard screams between two and three o’clock. No alarm was, however, created until daylight, when the Cambria was found run ashore, the cables having been slipped. On examining the vessel, the remains of young Thorpe and Pul ford were found tomahawked in a frightful wav. The cabin of the vessel was a most horrible sight, the walls being bespattered with blood, brains, and hair in all parts. Theyoungerof the two unfortunates had evidently fought hard for his life, as tire ehier lay still on his blanket with his arms folded across his breast ; a ghastly wound, apparently the first inflicted, close to the ear, and deeply gashing the skull, sufficiently accounted for this. But the younger lay on the floor of the cabin on his face, a perfect river of blood flowing from him,.and a hideous gash on the back of the skull, giving ghastly evidence of where bis savage assassins had finally let out his life. The poor hid bore wounds in many places, one particularly on the hand showing where ho had caught the' murderous tomahawk in descending. One of the supposed murderers was captured on the beach ; the other five were believed to have escaped to the mountains, but would in all probability be speedily captured. The schooner was got off the beach and made fast to the Margaret Chisholm. It may be remembered tlfat some two or three years ago some sensation was caused bv a case of shooting in the Eastern Market, Melbourne, in which a man named Ritson shot at and wounded, but did not kill, James Kinselia, market inspector. Ritson was tried for shooting with intent to kill, and was sentenced to death, hut subsequently the sentence was commuted to one of imprisonment for life. While in Pentridge, Ritson murdered a clergyman—the .Rev Mr Hill—who went to visit him, and for this offence Ritson was hanged. In June last Kinselia became insane, in consequence, it was supposed, of a wound in tire head, though it was never discovered where the bullet bad gone. While in the Yurra Bend Asylum Kinselia suffered great pain in the head and partial paralysis of the face, and disease of the lungs also supervening, he sank and died on the sth inst. Dr Cutts made a post-mortem examination., and found death had boon caused by disease of the brain and lungs. The only indications of a gunshot wound were powder marks on the nose, but the cartilaginous portion of the nose was drawn in. At the inquest the jury found a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and .expressed an opinion that the disease of the brain was brought on by a gunshot wound in the face. The Council of the University of Melbourne has decided not to admit the two young ladies who have passed the matriculation examination to the rank which, were they of the other sex, their success would entitle them. Later news from Fiji states that the murderers of Warburton’s party were captured at Bewa Island, after running the vessel ashore. They had lim short of provisions, and had eaten three of their companions. Counsel was heard at the bar of the Assembly on behalf of the Melbourne Polynesian Company, demanding that King Cakobau should fulfil his portion of the contract between them." For the eleven months ending November 30, 415,580 acres of land ha\c been : tat-en up in South Australia, on account of which £195,000 cash has been paid. This is more than double the Treasurer’s estimate at the commencement of the year. The new discoveries of gold in the north-east districts of South Australia j are attracting public attention. ' From I four places over 80 oz of gold have been I obtained in a very short time.