LATEST FROM FIJI.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2314, 17 August 1880, Page 2

LATEST FROM FIJI.

MEASLES FOR THE NATIVES. AN ATTORNEY-GENERAL CHARGED WITH ADULTERY. GROSS CRUELTY APPLAUDED. [Br Tjjlegiuph.j Auckland, August 10. Measles have been imported into Fiji from Melbourne by the s.s. Suva, which had two cases on board. She lias been quarantined at Lcvuka. A divorce case was tried at-the civil sittings of tbe Supreme Court. Fiji, on July ’22, which created great interest, owing to the social standing of the parties. The action was for the dissolu-

tion of tlie marriage of WilHmn Scott, barrister, and his wife Emma Elizabeth, ncc Miln, on the ground of adultery with Joseph Hector Garrick, also a barrister, and Her Majesty’s Attorney-General for the colony, Mr Hobday appeared for the petitioner, and the Attorney-General, the co-respondent, in person. The respondent was not represented. The petitioner gained his suit and £IOOO damages. At the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, Fiji, Mr E. F. Chippendale, a planter, was put on bis trial on a charge of the manslaughter a labor boy on Ids estate, Saunsdon. The boy, a foreign laborer, it appears, was working on the estate. Ho was sick, and had complained to several fellow islanders, hut not to the owner, that he had pains in his chest. The owner (Chippendale) came down to the sugar mill one morning, and finding the boy was slow at the work he was doing, gave him a kick to help him along. The boy said he was sick, whereupon Chippendale told him to go to his house and lie down, at the same time giving him some medicine with his own hands. Ten days after this the boy died, most probably, the medical evidence showed, of pneumonia. Chief Justice Gome and two assessors gave the case a most patient investigation, and the opinion arrived at was as follows :—“ We are of opinion that the deceased was ill on the morning of March 25 of mortal iUncss, of which ho died, and that he was kicked once by accused, but that • this kick did not cause or accelerate death, and therefore, in our opinion, accused is not guilty. We desire further to express our strong , reprobation of the act of _ Chippendale in kicking even one of his Polynesian laborers.” The Chief Justice then discharged the prisoner. Groat public interest was taken in the case, as it was regarded as a planter’s test case. Chippendale was warmly congratulated by the press and citizens on his acquittal.