Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-09
NEWS FROM AUSTRALASIA
New Zealand Still Urges Laying of Pacific
Gable.
MaOris Dying Out-TrOuble Between
Natives of New Hebrides and
Pearl Fishermen.

VANCOUVER. B. c.. september a.-Thc
steamer Warrimoo brings the following adj
vices from New Zealand and Australia:
A Tasmania paper says New Zealand de-
sires tc cooperate with Great Britain,
Canada, New South Wales, Victoria and
Queensland in raising the capital required
for the Pacific cable.
The Maori race in New Zealand is fast
dying out. At a diocesan synod in Wei
lington. clergymen of the Taraniki district
who appealed strongly for assistance in the
work among the Maoris, gave sad de-
scription of the state of things prevailing
in many places. Drunkenness, immortality
and sloth are the chief enemies of the race
According to the last census returns in
April, 1896 the number of Maors was 3D.
so4, and it was calculated that during the
previous five years there had been an ap-
parent decrease of 21:s,
A boat crew of the steamer Victoria had
an exciting time with the natives Of the
New Hebrides. Capt. Williams arrived at
one of the islands a week after recruiting
vessel had shot a native. The natives en-
tiCed the boats crew up a creek and then
fired on them in revenge Fortunately, only
one man was injured.
Abuses in PearIing Industry.
Mr.. Fenton, home secretary of Queens
land, has been inquiring into the pearling
industry. He finds that serious abuses eX-
list regarding the recruiting of natives and
the treatment of native women. The wo
men are taken away in boats, the owners
alleging they are with their husbands.
The sloop kethannie was lost in a storm
off the Tasmania coast. Her crew of four
were all drowned
4 terrible accident is reported from Fort
Mahonga, just outside Wellington. n. Il.
Some members of the local torpedo corps
1.at.l LODI To "a
lighting plant. 1t was found necessary to
explode a big charge of gun cotton. The
sapping party consisted of Sergeant Olive,
Corporal Black and Sappers league and
Head They set the mine and had lit the
fuse when the charge prematurely ex-
ploded When the smoke and dust cleared
away 1t was found that the little sapping
party had been practically annihilated.
Sergeant Olive. Corporal Black and Sapper
league were blown to pieces.
Owing chiefly to the increase Of dredging
operations the New Zealand gold output
for the first seven months of the year ex-
ceeded by f252,;07 that of the correspond
ing period of 1898.
DIR. Patton Passenger.
Among the passengers on the Warrimoo
was Rev. DR.. Patton, famous missionary
for the New Hebrides, who is on his way
to Washington as delegate from Victoria.
Australia, to the Pan Presbyterian conven-
ton. The Warrimoo reports having sighted
the mysterious dereict that has been of
Vancouver Islands several weeks. Accord
ing to Australian advices the steamer Wal
kato, which is two months overdue at sgd
ney from London, was spoken by a sailing
ship. but when search was instituted she
could not be found. Her shaft was broken
and the crew was almost without food.
The bark Feinbank was found drifting
helpless near Caledonia. All hands were
down with the fever.
The steamer LaZarene found sister
liner stranded at sea and towed her go
miles to Sydney.