ALLEGED KIDNAPPING AT MIAMIA ISLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5379, 24 June 1878, Page 3

ALLEGED KIDNAPPING AT MIAMIA ISLAND.

(From the Fiji Times, May 8.)

The Patience returned from the Bine Islands on Saturday. The following report of attempted kidnapping by the crew of the Stormbird, a vessel hailing from Waboo, Sandwich Islands, Johnston or Jackson, master, at the Island of Miamia, Gilbert’s Group, has been communicated to us :—On the arrival of the Patience at this island, the above-named vessel was found lying there and flying the English flag. She left immediately. On proceeding ashore for the purpose of recruiting, the natives informed Mr. Header, who speaks the Tokalau language with the greatest fluency, that th i crew of the Stormbird, consisting of some seven men, headed by the mate, all armed with revolvers, had been on shore and had attempted to kidnap several persons, principally voung women, including the wives of some of the white traders resident on the island, the trad -if* being absent at the other end of the island at the time. It is surmised that the sudden departure of the schooner was caused by their mistaking the Patience for a cruiser. In consequence of the conduct of this vessel the natives were naturally terrified, and had not recovered from their panic ; thus but few passengers were obtained by the Patience from this island, as they appeared suspicious of all white men. Had it not been for this circumstance she would have obtained a full complement of labor, as a great many had expressed tbeir intention of coming to Fiji by her on her last visit. The Stormbird had brought four women, who had been picked up adrift and taken to Sydney, back to this island at the cost of the English Government. One of these women died at sea, and when the other three were landed at Miamia, the captain refused to hand to her relatives some 201 b. of tobacco which belonged to the deceased. Some few days before the Patience reached Onoto, or Clarke’s Island, a French transport ship had lauded on that island some 102 people, all belonging to rl fferent islands. Most of these people were kidnapped some years ago and taken to Stewart’s plantation in Otaheite. If one of these natives is landed on any island other than his own he is invariably plundered by the residents ; so that if even these people succeed in reaching their homes, they are sure to lose the whole of the fruits of their years of enforced service.