THE TROUBLE IN FIJI.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 833, 6 March 1903, Page 2

THE TROUBLE IN FIJI.

CONTRADICTING STATEMENTS

By Telegraph-Press AssociationCopyright, Received 10.55 p. Ju ., March 5. BRISBANE, March’s, Fijian files by the Miowera contain lengthy accounts of the Bible-burning Tlic first reference to the incident appears in the Western Pacific llcraht of February 13th, wherein it is stated mat some months previously practically me whole of the Fijian inhabitants of tiie province of Namos ‘> hitherto professed Wesleyans had turned Roman Uatnohcs. Tins caused no little excitement ’ among the people. Various reasons were given tor the occurrence. Tne Herald added : •• The matter advanced another stage .yesterday, when wc are mfoimed on reliable authority that some 23S Bibles belonging to'theNamosi people were publicly burned at the Catholic Mission Station at Nailiilidi.::

The next issue of the Herald contams a letter from Father Rougier. declaring that both fact and statement as regard the burning were Fuse, and “ irom the statement I >leel certain you have been misled by chmf’ maliuiollb '' Rl-wislung indivi-

Ou February 21st, the Suva Times published a fetter signed by the Rev. vV. A. Burns, Wesleyan missionary' traversing the grounds of Father Rougier.s denial. He goes on to say ; “ With so many reputable witnesses, and with so much substantial corroboration, one might invite all risk ol a lawsuit upon the evidence.” lie adds : “ I fearlessly assert that except lor the number said to have been burned the statement of the Herald is perfectly correct."

Received 11.29 p.m., Alareli 5. In his letter to the .Suva Times, the Rev. Mr Burns gives a circumstantial account of the burning, supplied Oy eye-witnesses, according to whom two or more cases- of nooks-, mostly, if not all, Bibles and Alethodist hymn-nooks in the Fijian tongue were burned in a limekiln specially erected lor the occasion on the ground of the Catholic Mission Station. 'The work of tearing up the books and inserting them in the kiln was done by native girls of the station, supervised by two Europeans, the witness, Mr Burns declares Knows more than twenty adults, besides a large number ot school children, ol intelligence enough to be competent witnesses.

In answer to Mr Burns’ letter, Father Rougier wrote to the Fiji Times that the first intimation he had of the burning was the Herald.s announcement, Upon making enquiry, he found that the following was the practice of the Catholic Church, and the strict injunction laid down in its rubrics, which ordain all material, of. a sacred character appertaining to church worship, including Bibles and prayer-books. .When at work out heT. O , ,V 1C Julec ’ le Catholic sisters of Raililliii, assisted by a few pupils, bad, as they had done periodically, burned a biscuit-tin or useless Catholic books and church material, a kerosene tin of soiled and useless Wesleyan Testaments and hymn-books. He asserts that the’-sisters were not actuated by, any hostile feeling or spirit of wanton destruction. A letter in the Fiji Times' from Mr Burns shows that .the Chairman of tile Wesleyan Mission wrote to‘ Father Rougier prior to the publication of Mr Burns first letter, asking if the Herald:s statement of the burning were correct. Father Rougier failed to reply.

Passengers oy the Miowera state that when- the steamer left Suva the excitement, was still high..