WRECK AT MEW HEBRIDES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2636, 4 June 1889, Page 2

WRECK AT MEW HEBRIDES.

(BY KMiCriUU TELEUUAI'H. -COPYKIfiIIT.) Sydney, June 3. The steamer Fijian, from Melbourne to the New Hebrides, struck on :i re f :it Van dm May 13th, off Tanua, '"><■- of the group. ,\lr Hurley, the second oflictr, was in charge at the time. Tlie .essel struck with a tremendous crash, and the fore compartment filled immediately. Tlie danger was unseen until the steamer was close on to it, the officer mistaking the breakers on the reef f>r white water occasioned by an approaching squall. As the Fijian was beginning to settle the ciptain ran her ashore on a sandy bottom. Three hundred armed natives were on the beach watching her movements and when the passengers landed they were at mica surrounded but suffered 110 harm. The next morning the natives looted the ship but Captain Fielding had thoughtfully taken the precautions of destroying all the spirits on board. Rev. Mr Watt, Presbyterian Missionary visited the wreck, and told them that owing to the blood-thirsty character of the natives, he was unable to guarantee the lives of the castaways for five minutes, but eventually he succeeded in taking the passengers off, and also the captain, who is in bad health, and conveying them to the mission station. It is believed the lives of passengers were only saved through the attention of the natives being concentrated on plundering the vessel. The labour vessel Kli/.a and Mary was sighted, and stood by the wreck, and the steamer Tenterden, which arrived from Auckland, brought on the crew to Sydney. They speak in terms of approbation of the way in which the six passengers on board behaved. They belonged to Suva and Melbourne.