THE MURDERS AT KAIPARA. (From the Daily Southern Cross, Dec. 23.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 2015, 31 December 1863, Page 7

THE MURDERS AT KAIPARA. (From the Daily Southern Cross, Dec. 23.)

Geext excitement prevailed in Auoklnnd yes-a terday morning, on the receipt of the intelligence that Mrs. Thompson, the wife of the jnailmtn at Kaipara, had been barbarously murdered by a Maori ; and so indistinct and inaccurate was the information conveyed, which spread like wildfire through the town, that th©T Occurrence, a lamentable one in itself, was conjured up into a general rising of the Northern natives. Although the improbability of such an occurrence must have been apparent to those •who reasoned on the subject, thore were not afew •who were ready to assume that such was the case, but this feeling gradually lessened when tho real facts of the case came to bo known. We published a -third edition about half-past three o'clock, which contained the principal particulars. On the matter being reported to the authorities, no time was lost in deciding what steps should be taken to meet the supposed emergency, for we believe that it was not until later in the day that the real state of the case was discloted. The chief Paul, from Orakei, many of whoso people are resident at Kaipara — the murderers so far as is at present known, being oW of them— came into Auckland at an early hour and called upon the Governor. He offered, as we are informed, to go up to Kaipara and bring in the murderer, and requested that no soldiers •hould be sent there. Paul afterwards proceeded to Kaipara with one of the expeditions. The first step that was taken was to send off three armed men-of-war boats, viz., two pinnaces from tho ' Esk, 1 and one from tfct • CursQoa,' which we believe were principally manneu by blue jackets from the • Miranda.' They started about half an hour after noon, and Mr. Fox (the Colonial Secretary), and an interpreter went with them. A number of the militia, and the naval volunteers wore then ordered to muster, the former at the Albert Barracks, and the latter at the market house, and about halfpast two o'clock, or shortly after, they marched down to the Queen-street Wharf, irhere two cargo boats had been engaged to take them to the Kaipara landing place. There was perhaps a difference of 15 minutes between the times of the marching of the militia and naval volunteers, and the excitement was so great that on each occasion a large concourse of persons followed them to the Queen-street Wharf, which was densely crowded. The two cargo boats engaged were the « Beßsie,' cutter, belonging to Mr. Edwards, and the ' Sydney,' belonging to Mr. Andrew Scott, both of which were of about from 18 to 20 tons burthen. The militia, of which there were about 60 or 60, under command of Captain Taylor, Lieutenant Enssell, and Ensign Naughton, embarked in the ' Bessie,' and the naval volunteers, of which there were 25 of the Ist company, and 15 of the 2nd, under Captain Copland, in the 'Sydney.' Exclusive of the blue jackets this would make a force of upwards of 100 men who started, besides officers. General Galloway and Major De Quincy accompanied the militia. At 25 minutes past three o'clock the ' Bessie' got away, and the • Sydney' went five minutes afterwards. They were both cheered on their departure. Having a good leading wind, both boats were soon lost sight of in the distance, and they rounded the Kauri Point about 4 o'clock. If the wind continued as favourable, the boats would probnbly reach their destination about 6 or 7 o'clock. They ■would laud at the Kaipara landing place, from which they would have to march a distance of eight or ten miles to the scene of the murders. The road is a good beaten one, and being moonlight, there would be nothing to prevent them proceeding onward lust night. Colonel Kenny proceeded overland to Hendersons Mill about the same time. The volunteers were told to hold themselves in readiness to s?o also, should their services be required.

(FBO3I OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Haying learnt that the life of Mrs. Thompson "~the~wife of a Knipara settler, had been taken ■ by a native on Monday afternoon, T left town I' on the afternoon of the clay following to ascertain the fullest particulars, and likewise to solve the still more important question, w hether or not this homicide -was in any way mixed up 1 with the rebellious movement in (he South. Tlie announcement of the murder had created considerable excitement in town, and not un_4WiiHrslly, because the events which followed fast [upon the slaughter of the Meredith's were fresh Fin the public recollection. "When a deed of blood, somew hat similar in its general features, was committed at Kaipara, it was not unnaturally surmised that the demon of civil strife was let loose upon the Northern settlements. The naked homicide, horrible as it is, sinks into insignificance in the face of this graver consideration, and as it is of importance at all times to arrive at the truth, it was doubly so on this occasion, to allay public apprehension or stimulate the authorities iv taking measures for defence. It is well known that the Northern settlements are at present in a defenceless state, and this knowledge increased the public anxiety. To satisfy this feeling, therefore, I started for the scene of the outrage, on Tuesday afternoon, but as matters subsequently transpired I did not visit Thompson's house. Having^ reached Hendersons mill in the evening, I found Colonel Kenny, and Captain Hardington, and four men of the Auckland Cavalry Volunteer Corps, were stationed there awaiting the arrival of the infantry and Naval Volunteers from Auckland, who were expected to arrive that evening. Failing to learn anything definite regarding the murder, I started later in the evening for Kaipara, in company with Mr. Rice of the Native Office, and the chief Paul, of Orakei, who was going up to his tribe, the Ngatiwhatuas, to'ascertain the facts for himself, and if they were as reported in town, to use his influence in having the culprit handed over to justice. I will not weary my readers with the particulars of a moonlight ride across the ctray road to the head of the Waitemata, where we found the militia and volunteers, expected by Colonel Kenny at Hendersons mill, likewise Major-General Galloway, Major De Quincy, A.D.C., and his Honor the Superintendent. At this place the excitement was intense. A number of settlers, who had abandoned their homes in terror on the first spreading of the news, occupied most of the available houseroom in the settlement near the Waitemata mills. These people were greatly concerned, and looked upon the homicide at Kaipara as the opening of a war in the North. All the homeiteads along the line from Blake's mill towards the landing place on the Waitemata had been abandoned, and little or no property had been removed. A panic had stricken them. The same, perhaps, with a little modification, may be said of the bush residents. The workpeople employed at Blake's mill at once gave up work, and I have been told did not so much as wait to put their tools in a place of safety. P We passed, on the road from Good's publichouse at the lauding to Kaipara. a bullock-dray laden with sawn timber ; tue dray and timber •were left lying on the roadside, but the driver had unyoked his oxen and turned them adrift, and then made the best of his way to the European settlement. I will not now discus whether it is an act which can be justified by prudence or expediency to desert homesteads and property, on the bare mention of a murder by a native, liather is it an incentive to plunder. By daylight yesterday, the travelling party I have mentioned arrived at the Avi-aroa pa, which was visited by the chief J?aul, and the inhabitants were questioned regarding the murder. The answers received in this first inquiry after the truth, were unsatisfactory. They knew nothing of the murder beyond the fact that Mn. Thompson, and her daughter, Anna Matilda, had been killed by an axe : they , likewise said that no Maori was out of the disT trl'et', r and, suggested a doubt whether this ;-»hould not have been done by a, European, who

miglrt havo liad access 'to the house iv Mr. absence. ' Howevor t the natives, great and little, were warned *to attend a *sttnnii£(a, to be held early that morning, nt the pa close to Mr. McLeods mill. T learnt, at the first place of call, that the Hon. Mr. Fox, Colonial Secretary, with Mr. Monroe, of the Native s Office, had had a meeting with the natives on the previous evening, at whioh meeting Fridaywas named as the day for finally inquiring into the matter. . At about half-past six o'clock a.in., the runanga was held. The natives assembled in treat force, nnd listened to Paul, who adressed them at somf"length on the fact of the murder, recommending them to hand over any one of the tribe, however influential, who was identified by the surviving girl as the murderer of her mother and sister. An influential chief, who had come acrojs from Mahurangi on the day of the murder, and passed close to the spot without observing any trace of the foul deed, next spoke, and detailed what he had observed. The first of his observations was, that iuUmuch as ho had seen an armed pakeha close to the scene of the murder, it ought to be presumed that the European was guilty and not a Maori. After a good deal of talk," however, it was finally agreed that on (||jiday the Hon. Colonial Secretary should return, bringing with him the surviving daughter of Thompson to identify the murderer from amongst all the natives of the tribe, tho Manga pledging themselves to deliver over to justice cc hdulprit, however influential. This is a result that is highly satisfactory. Every chief who spoke enforced the point that they were, and meant to continue, friends to tho Government, and that they would use every diligence to have as large a meeting as possible on tho occasion. I have never seen men apparently more sincere in their protestations of friendship, nor in agreeing on the main point, to aid the Government in bringing the culprit, if found, -within the operation of the law. The same feeling of sincerity, I have been told, was apparent at the meeting held on the previous evening in the same pa, and to which the Hon. Mr. Fox was the first to bring the intelligence of the double murder. The news, thorefore, reached Auckland and travelled back a distance of forty miles before the Awaroa natives, who reside about three and a half miles from where the murders were committed, knew anything about it. After the public runanga at tho pa, the chiefs were invited to consider the matter calmly, in tho presence of the Hon. Colonial Secretary, the place of meeting being Mr. J. McLeods residence, some distance" from the pa. About twenty of tho most I influential chiefs attended this second meeting, and renewed their friendly assurances, and determination to hand over to the authorities any man who was pointed out as the murderer. Amongst the chiefs present were Tamati Davis, one of the most powerful ; Apahau Otene, chief of the Manga ; Teria Ngjitiwhatua, Te Parone, Te Para, and Paora Kowllaru. After yesterday morning's meeting, Te Wiremu, Paul's brother, arrived, and followed Mr. Fox Iroin the pa. He addressed him at some length. He admitted his obligations to the Government ; said the tattooing on his face was done at the cost of the Government, and that the Government had likewise fed him since he was a little boy. On that ac count, he placed himself beneatli their feet. He likewise snid that he had been deputed by Apehia te Kawau, of Ougarau, tho head chief, to speak his sentiments also. What he had said might, thorefore, be taken as expressing the views of his Manga. The question of handins over the culprit was alluded to, and Te Wiremu argued the case with considerable skill : would thett hole tribe be made to suffer for the sin of one man, should he not be found ? The lion, the Colonial Secretary was called on to answer this question, which he did satisfactorily. The tvibe would not be held responsible for Hie evil acts of one man ; but the tribe had cars and eyes, and could hear and see what was going forward. If any evil person, therefore, had got amongst them, and committed the murder, or if one of their own people had done it, instigated by the devil, it was their duty to try and lincl out tho guilty person and transfer him to the authorities. He paid a deserved compliment to the tube for its loyalty nnd disposition in times past, to assist the Government in opening up the country by selling many large blocks of land. So far, therefore, everything is satisfactory in a political aspect. Although tho native is nol forthcoming nt present, he may be (and if Maori pledges are worth anything) he will be on Friday. The natives set up an alibi. They state that the accused, with three others, had gone to the Kaipara Heads two dnys before tho murder, and as he had not since returned they could not speak for him. A boat was despatched to bring up the native whom we are in quest of. Friday will show whether they mean what they piofess,orthe reverse. Meanwhile thetroops who remain at Lamb's mill will be ready for service when required. No complications can possibly arise in thiß matter except the natives keep the culprit studiously concealed, and evade their promise. If they break faith, then all that remains for the authorities to do is to arrest him, w]sereever found, and put him upon his trial The hon. the Colonial Secretary and the Superintendent rode into town laßt evening ; and the chief Paul, Colonel Kenny, Captain Hfrdington, and the four mounted vounteers, lil^wise returned to town.