The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-04-11
From Australia and the Fills,

Tie \. 4 4. steamship Tartar, which arrived on
Saturday morning last. brought as sydney paPcr-
% March li,b. aud Auckland 20 the l7lh. W
dnd bat Ijule Of interest ia the papers beyond
matters OF local concern. 4 significant debate had
however taken place 10 thc Legislative Assembly
% New south Wales. March 81. We give "a hgic.
synopsis.
M. W-Forsycr moved-Thaf the House was OF
opinion that any ai.emF; on Che part OF auy Gov
error OF this colony OF u any Secretary 81 state
in Great Britain. whether by dispatches OF insiruc-
lions. or otherwise. 70 interfere with The appoint
ment Of members Of the Legislative Copncil % This
colony, or on the part Of any Minister 81 thc Crown
in this colosy 10 sanction such interference, SD as
IN ans way 20 limit or restrain the power pi jhc
Government In such appointment. OF % pCrma-
ncntly Limit the number % members Of such Coun-
ell, or 70 Co1dne such number % q Gyed standard.
Is contrary 10 law. and subyerslyc of the rights
and privileges ct The Government and Legislature
Of this colony,
MI. Buchanan moved as an amendment that The
fact Of such a molten as the one under discussion
having been brought forward by "a gentleman who
had occupied the positions 81 "a Minister q the
Grown aud Of Prime Minister Of the country. was
striking evidence that a dangerous interference
with our rights and privileges. on the part at the
British Government, has taaen place. aud that IN
view Of the Importance, wealth, and influence Of
the community, and as s guarantee against any
further ana similar interference. and as. in some
measure. q security for the preservation Of our
freedom and Independence, the House respectfully
suggested that II would be advantageous 60 the
best interests OF Great Britain, as we'll as u New
South Wales, that the political connection exist
ing between them should cease. aud that the peo-
Pile Of New South Wales should be left in the fuU
possession OF their independent right to govern
themselves, Without Interference OF any Kind from
any quarter. He Insisted that there was nothing
in his amendment inconsistent with The most per
feet loyalty to the British Crown. and that the po-
litical severance of the colony from England would
ha hapainiaH for "a lars 81 10th -..aus~s
Mr.. Parkes said the amendment was not backed
up by the public opinion of the colony, and be be-
lieved it would receive very little support in the
House.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick regarded the amendment as on
posed TO the oath of allegiance which honorable
members had TO take when they took their seats in
the House.
The debate was adjourned, without coming to a
division.
Fiji.
On the 18th page Of to-day : paper will be found
an article from the Auckland Herald. which gives
a clear idea of the political situation in these
islands.
The seven murderers of Mr.. Burns and his family
were tried at Lrvuka on the 4th. 9th. and 9th of
February. before the Native Chief Justice Marika.
and a jury Of seven Fijiaus. The Attorney Gen
eral for the Crown. Mr.. W. Scott for the defence.
They were all condemned to death. The follow
ing is a gist of the evidence
There were FIVE witnesses for the prosecution.
and sve for the defence. From the evidence it APP
pears that Mr.. Burns plantation on the Ba was the
nearest To the mountains, and was worked by for
eign laborers. BUNS bad a good supply of arms
and ammunition. and also n quantity of trade, and
he and his men were generally armed and prepared
against any attack. 1t was stated that prior to the
murder. Burns and his men had laid aside their
arms, and this fact coming TO the knowledge of the
monntaineeTs led TO the fatal attack. On that day,
however, Burns carried a revolver, and 1--WE, at
least, of his men had muskets. The murdereIs
comprised men from the towns of Karawa. Koro-
Vralwai and MaEiRi WIN started af uiubt and
reached the plantation by daylight. After getting
creek in order to reach the house. Here the Tanna
men met the mOuntaineers. Burns being in the
rear. Both parties rushed towards each other. the
Tanna men firing first. and one Fijian falling.
Now. Burns rushed TO the front, revolver in band.
and wounded three OF the advancing Fjians. one
in the arm and two in the body. Having crossed
the stream. the prisoner Neribacoko rushed on
Burns aud run him through with a spear, when he
Immediately fell and was dubbed TO death. The
mountaineeTs hunted down the Tanna men. killing
about twenty of them. Then the party rushed the
house. when Mrs. Burns. who was inside, fred at.
but missed them. A man named TailOkO (at large)
shot Mrs. Burns through the breast, and then they
entered the house. Geneva had a bow in his
hand. which he threw over the mead OF james Horn
Burns. a boy just over three years OF age, drew
the child towards him. dashed him to the ground.
and beat him to death tanvirOviro cihDDeu the
infant. The young men carried away all the
weapons and ammunition they could end. as well
as trade, and the trying pan, but left some money.
which they did not understand. Also set FIRE TO
some of the buildings, when seeing two whites
(Stirling and MiGeath) and a body of Tanna men
approaching, they ~deeamped.