LATEST NEWS FROM NEW GUINEA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 29, 20 April 1878, Page 2

LATEST NEWS FROM NEW GUINEA.

(From 'Town and Country Journal.") ATTACK ox TIIK SCHOONER " MAVJII." Thk following letter has been addressed by Mr. A. Goldie, now in New Guinea, (o Mr. Jos. Macdonald of Balmain:— " Port Moresby, "January 14th, 1878. "Dear Sir,—Since 1 wrote my lost, I started for South (.'ape, about 100 miles to the eastward. I got as far as Cape Rodney, about 100 milos from Port Moresby, when we sighted tie: mission lugger Mayri, closu in shore. We slacked oil and ran in towards her. When I boarded her I was horrified lu find her captain lying badly wounded. He reported that when lying at anchor off the: mission station, where the Rev. Mr. Chalmers has been lately placed, ami while his crew were on shore, he Was lying in his cabin, having just left the deck, after giving the natives on board something to rut. He happened to east his eves up, when lie caiighl sight of a Spoor coming right down on his heart lie gave a sudden spring, but not sufficient f" escape, as the spew went through his side and nailed him to the dock He seized the spear, hreike it, and released himself, Other three spoon in like) manner were thrown, all of whioh

wounded him mm through the thigh, another through hi- right hand, and the .fourth through tho shoulder, but fortunately nous of them dangerously; but In- received hi* worst wound from a large trade knife, which cut the sinews right across the foot The cabin was swimming with blood, hut Captain Dadtield fought for his life bravely : hr* arms were all loaded, he tried several times to get on deck, hut the attempt showed him thai to do so would be to meet death. He fired his revolver through the scuttle, which they speedily closed, natives standing on them to keep him down, hut ho soon showed them that the position was too hot to hold, as ho sent twelve charges through the wood of the scuttle, wounding several natives ; he also sent a charge from a breach-loading gun right through the deck, which made a clean hole, sending the splinters Hying. One native from this charge was wounded very severely; he fell on the mainsail and covered it with blood. All this brave lighting was done after the captain wax severely wounded. One of his crew, a native of Darnley Island, was in the hold. A native sprang down and attacked him. Then the Darnley Island native hail a musket which he presented and drew the trigger, but unfortunately it was not capped. The native had a large cleaver knife in his hand, with which he rushed to the attack; hut. the blows of which were parried off with the musket. The Darnley Islander seized a hatchet and fought bravely for his life. They came to close quarters, each holding his opponent by the armed arm, the native managed to overpower the Darnley Islander, throwing him down. The captain all this time was an eve-witness to the deadly strife, through a small hole that communicated with the cabin, but up to the time that the Darnely Islander w vs thrown he covered his opponent. At this critical moment the native raised his hand to bring his deadly implement right across his opponent's throat. The captain at this juncture fired his revolver, which took effect right under the native's raised arm, which fell powerless on his opponent as he died without a groan. The Darnley blander, springing to his feet, not quite understanding the cause, brought his axe right down on the dead man's head. The natives on deck at this juncture closed the hatch of the hold when they saw their comrade's death, the captain at the same lime handing a loaded rifle through, which the Darnley Islander made good use of by sending the bullets right through the hatchway. The natives shortly after this found it too hot for them,'hut not before trying to extinguish the fire below, which they could not quite understand, by throwing buckets of water down. When the captain crawled on deck after the natives had decamped, he found the deck of his vessel swimming with blood from the wounds of the natives, all of whom were carried away except the dead man in the hold. The; natives on shore all this time were making a groat, noise. The Rev. Mr. Chalmers and his wife, with four teachers and their wives were on the beach a short distance off, surrounded by armed natives, but a different tribe from those attacking the vessel, they would not allow the crew ashore to go off to the. vessel till the fight was over. Mr. Chalmers went oil' to the Mayri, in a canoe with two natives, when they removed the dead man, sending him ashore. He went among the natives who attacked tho Mayri unarmed; he insisted that the captain should sail that night, but would not leave himself, trusting his life in God's hands. He informed the captain that several tribes intended to attack him next day. with largo war canoes, when he would be overpowered. We met the Mayri three days after the fight, about sixty miles from Mr. Chalmers station, which place we were bound for. I was most anxious to proceed at once to the Smith (.'ape, but the captain urged me not to do so, for Mr. Chalmers's sake, as it would cause only fresh excitement if the matter had quieted down, and if not, we were too late to render Mr. Chalmers assistance, as his greatest danger would be the next day after he left. It was with great reluctance 1 returned and accompanied (he Mayri back to Port Moresby, where we expected to meef the mission vessel Ellengowan, which up to this present datohos not reached this; although if a man's word is to be depended on, she ought to have been hero long ago. It was only knowing that the steamer was due here that I returned, as she was more able to go down to render assistance than we were, and if she required my assistance 1 would go as a volunteer. 'There is a brave missionary and his hemic: wife among thousands of cannibals, if they are alive; what an awful time of anxiety if must have been. When 1 think on all tho circumstances in connection with post and present arrangements of mission work clown here, | fuel indignant that a fraud of playing at mission work lioro should longer exist, f know for a fact that previous arrangements such as this had been made with flic worthy missionary the Rev, Mr. Lawcs, and he can testify how little Ihey have been attended to, I feel that J have a right to write on this matter, for 1 may be blamed for turning and leaving Mr. Chalmers to his fate: when 1 would not have done so, even at (lie urgent entreaties of Captain Dadfield, though the explorer was certainly going to a deadly Conflict, if I had not though! thai the mission steamer which was at the time of our turning dueat Port lioreery, would have been there. The Mayri was attacked on Saturday, the 24th February, lt#B we

met her 08 Gape Rodney, on Tuesday, [January, 1, 187s. ' 1 inn. yoms truly, ■ Andriiw Uui.dik." COOKTOWX, March 4. I The Ellengowan, mission steamer, arrived here this morning from Port Moresby, baying aboard the Kev. .Mr. Chalmers from .South Capo. Ho reports the narty at the station all will. Mis. Chalmers remains at the station with the teachers. Mr, Chalmers folly confirms the news of the attack on the schooner Mayri. The object of the natives was to seize the vessel, and attack the whole mission party, but they happily did not succeed, owing to Captain Dadfield shooting the ringleader who was very troublesome, always leading the attacks on the party. When the Mayri left, the whole party was in 0 stato of great alarm. They had been three days in a state of Beige. They were addressed by a friendly native, and asked to leave during the night; but that was out of the question, for the reason, that if the natives know they were leaving they would attack the whole party and kill them when |withoiit shelter. The natives, however, desisted from making the attack, owing to the influence of some men, who thought that if the party were killed, no more hoop iron would lie got from the Europeans. Mr. Chalmers, furthermore, conciliated them by presents of axes and beads. The siege was eventually raised, and the party were' permitted to leave ; but they were still very uneasy. The Ellengowan arrived shortly after, and the islanders were all quiet and peaceable once more. Mr. Chalmers left on the sth February for Port Moresby, and from that settlement ho brings the latest news. Mr. Lioldie and party were lying there, unable to go inland, inconsequence of intertribal wars. The rains wore very late. Broadbent and party leave for Lolok River at the first opportunity. Information had reached Port Moresby of the massacre on the Engineer Group. When the Ellengowan reached Test Island, the Rev. Mr. M'Farlane was informed by a native teacher, that Mr. M'Cort, partner of Captain Redlick in a fishing station, had been murdered by the natives. A native woman has also been murdered. The Engineer natives had been on Test Island, wearing M'< 'oil's clothes, and had with them his revolvers &c. They told the Test [slanders that they had murdered M'Cort, burned the cutter, and destroyed the station. The murder was caused by interference with the women. Hartley, and Co., the Cooktown agents of Redlick, confirm the news of the massacre The Prospect, cutter, has been manned by Captain Redlick, and a number of bands, and they are now on their way to Engineer Island, to inquire as to the murder. If the affair is entirely unjustifiable they will retaliate. The Ellengowan leaves on Tuesday with coals, and Mr. Chalmers goes to Stacey Island.

THE NEW GUINEA COLD DISCOVERY. The following letter has boon received by the " Cooktown Herald," from Mr. Goldic : —" Port Moresby, February X.— It is with great anxiety I have heard of the excitement caused by my discovery. I have merely discovered that gold is in existence—nothing more. There is nothing in my letter to the Rev. Mr. Lawes to cause the public to belicvo aught else. lam not -a gold prospector. All I was desirous of was that a prospecting party might come down at first and test the value of my discovery, which was merely that gold existed. All specimens I got were sent to Sydney, and from those the public ought to take evidence. I will not hold myself responsible for all the misery that is sure to follow. I cannot account for the excitement, further than that the crew of the Bertha stated what was not the fact. Any vessel on the. berth at Sydney or other ports for Xcw Guinea will be responsible if they bring a crowd here. If diggers come let them stick to the vessels till the country is prospected. It, is their only haven of safety, and to prospect the country at this time of the year is madness. I am not responsible for any rush ; my conscience is dear. 1 have written the whole truth to the, Press, and fur nothing more am J responsible. (Signed) A. GOLOIE."