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Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 342, 29 January 1861, Page 4

"ErromangaV November 18, 1860. "The most noticeable circumstances here

are the; visit of the measles, which are lun- : nirigi through1 Erromanga, even amonjy the natives, by which two men, two women,..and three children;were, killed a few days' ago. Prosperity continued, and success in the mission work generally. ...:" 1' - "■'-'■ " George N. Gordon"-"

" There has been another awful mas: sacre at the Solomon group. Treasury Island has this time been the scene of native

treachery and bloodthirstiness, the inhat»i- ---' tants haying destroyed the Amer icj in ■whaler Superior, and butchered twentysix of her crew in cold blood. The lives of six who had secreted themselves, wer.e spared on the intercession of one of they chiefs in order that they might till the landThe two principal chiefs divided these men between them—each taking three. Captain Mair, of the schooner Ariel,.succeeded after

- a- great deal of trouble in rescuing three of ; ' these men, but the other three still remain in captivity, and at the mercy of the chief Copan, who had been the principal in the massacre of their comrades. It was only by obtaining possession of a relative of one ; of the chiefs, and by keeping him in irons till the three men whom his kinsmen held •in durance were restored, that Captain Mair succeeded so far as he di^. This news was brought by the Rebecca, and one of the mehbelorigmg tn the latter vessel 1 %as murdered at New Georgia, during a ■ 'treacherous^attack iigon a boat which was ''on a watering expedition. It is to be hoped that;prompt measures will be taken ibr ; the ■rescue' of the three captives at Treasury : Island (if still alive j, and for the jpunish- • xnent of tHe murderers." As it is Americans

who have suffered, there is mOre chance of

such promptitude than if the murdered crew Jiad been British subjects, for the Ameri can Government and its naval officers are more prompt; 'w$ 9sze,nß,

andnav^l autHßHH^HßHßptness the delay of yeS^Bß^HH^®as? °f the: Woodlark Islancr^HSmHße im" manner in; whicnlms! outrage was atvlefagth resented. Prompt -and strict.justicejin^dealirigf with cases of1 this nature; is-Jhe-truest merby., 1 Long impunity, [or inencourage theisland•jersito commit other crimes and the: white !traders to retaliate. ■:•■; ■'■■■■"-> ;