EFFECTS OF THE LABOR TRADE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1127, 17 January 1884, Page 1

EFFECTS OF THE LABOR TRADE.

Capt, Hayward, of the Kate McGregor, which has arrived at Auckland from the Line Islands, reports that the Julia, a vessel of Hono'ulu, landed on the island of Nonouti, one of the Gilbert Group, 20 to 80 returned people of Apia and Tarawa, two islands north of the Equator in the same group. These men were armed with Winchester repeating rifles, sixteen shooters. From accounts I could obtain these men were constantly causing trouble both at Honolulu and on board ship, but on their first arrival at the blinds they did behave themsdves for a time. Their ambition, however, bee une awakened, and, knowing their power, they showed themselves in their true colors. Ten young girls were publicly assaulted, and when two old men went to expostulate they were shot down. Then followed a scene of butchery of the most revolting kind, men, women and children sharing the same fate. Mothers cast their children from them, and with their husbands took to smsd canoes, preferring to trust to the mercy of the elements in these frail vessels than to the pitilessness nf these fiends of their own race. Some natives of Nonouti had through fear joined the Apia peop'e, and inflamed bv drink and emboldened by the possession of sort e arms, procured either with the consent or through the negligence of a white trader, who said, on ‘ Yes, he hsd some grins, but they were in an old store, and probably given away by his brother in law.’ The surra man said there were eighteen killer! to his knowledge, besides some who died in the bush and were eaten by dogs. Tire people who escaped after this encounter being in small canoes without water, and under a tr ipicrl sun, made their W-iy to two other islands, where they beseeched Timhunaka, the king, to give them succour, also telling him that certain subjects of his own, who were on a visit to Nonouti, a'ong with a missionary and two white ' traders were in constant d mg r of their lives, if not already butchered. Trie king having (bartered a vessel, nquested the m ster to take off bis people to Nonouti. Tire mister, after some deItbera ion, and having received the king’s promise that there should be no bloodshed. but that Calicoa and Iris followers should only be disarmed, acquiesced, and the vessel, with Timbunaka on board, arrived off Nonouti on tire morning of December Cth, and was boarded by a canoe containing two men. These were taken on board by the king, and then entrusted with a message to Calicoa to the effect that had not come to make war, but only to succour bis people and to disarm murderers and to compel their good behaviour, and that if they quietly laid town their arms no harm should come to them. At 4 a.m. on the 7th three boats were sent away from the vessel, but before a landing could tie obtained a volley was fired at them from the shore, which had the effect of hiding two and wounding one. The people then landed, and requested those of Apia to lay down their i.rms. The demand was not complied with and a fight ensued, the result being on the side of the Apia people seven killed and one wounded, whilst on the other side there were three killed and nine wounded. Several prisoners were taken on to Tamana on the following day. Among them was one notorious bloodthirsty man of a most repulsive appearance. Gleeson gave me full particulars of the shocking scenes enacted on the island by the returned labor people, and states that if Timbunaka and bis men had not come the lives of two European traders and a missionary would have been taken.