IMPORTANT EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE WAIROO MASSACRE.

POLICE OFFICE, NELSON, Aug. 22. [Before G. White, Esq., P.M., and A. M'Donald and G. Dbppa, Esqrs., justices of the peace.] Joseph Morgan : I was at the Wairoo on the 17th of June last. I saw Mr. Thompson, Captain Wakefield, and a few others cross, by means of a canoe, the stream which separated us from the encampment of Rauparaha and Ranghiaita. The Maories at first objected to the canoe being used, but Mr. Thompson said he would seize it in the Queen's name. They offered no further opposition to the canoe being used. Mr. Thompson told us we were to protect the constables and himself in taking Raur paraha, but that we were not to fire unless they\ were molested in returning. When the gentle- ' taen were over, the only thing which I heard Rauparaha say that I could understand was, " Kapai the korrero, no good the fight." I particularly observed among the natives one with whom I had had a quarrel a few days before, respecting a Coat which he stole from one of Mr. Parkinson's men. He also saw me, and we watched each other closely. When we were ordered to cross the stream, the natives spread themselves and (with* the exception of two or three) retired behind the bushes. Tyrrell was the first man who advanced across the canoe; I followed close behind him, and told him to push along. While we were crossing, Captain I Wakefield (who was also in the canoe) said, I " Keep your eyes on them, my men — they have I their guns pointed at us." At this time the / Maori who had stolen the coat was earnestly , watching Tyrrell and myself, who were c\w*' together. The moment we jumped out of the 'canoe, he brought hia gun to his shoulder and retired a few paces to a bush. Believing that he intended to fire at me, I stooped behind a bank for protection. At that instant a gun was discharged, and Tyrrell fell dead at my feet. I { have not the least doubt that the gun was fired by the Maori who had watched us. lam certain no\ 'gun was fired previously . Tyrrell was struck in \ his throat, and fell dead on his back.- Had the gun been fired by one of our own party, he must have been struck behind. No order to fire had^ been given, and Mr. Thompson had told us\ previously that we were not to fire without his \ 'orders. lam sure that Tyrrell was killed by the first gun that was discharged. I was not more than seven yards from the spot where the Mao\f stood who pointed his gun at us, and who I believSL shot Tyrrell. I believe the Maories always* meant to fight. Whilst staying at the pah, before the arrival of the brig, Rauparaha told me if Captain* Wakefield came down he wguld kick up a bloody row. This was said in Maori, but a native who spoke English well told me what Tie said. Every Maori was armed either with a gun or tomahawk. When Tyrrell was killed; Mr. Thompson ordered us to fire, but, before we could do so, sejteral Maories had fired. I ! had a double-barrelled gun, which Mr. Howard had given me, with which I attempted to fire at - Ranghiaita, who was sitting behind a bush, but neither barrel would go off. On looking round I saw that all our party, with the exception of Captain England, was on" the other side of the creek. Captain England was in the water, f crossing tinder shelter of the, canoe, which he did by laying hold of its side, hand over hand. I crossed in the same manner, and, while doing so, one ball struck off my cap, and another hit the barrel of my gun and knocked it out of m^ hand, and it was lost in the stream. The wafer N reached to my neck as I crossed. I followed Captain England up the hill, where we joined Captain Wakefield and the other gentlemen. Captain Wakefield seeing that he was not supported by the men, who were then runninglbff in all directions, held up a token of peace: I remained with the gentlemen until nearly the whole of the others had deserted them, and then Morrison and myself ran to the top of the hill and lay down, as I could go no further from being so wet* We did not look about us, because we heard the Maories searching for us. ■" They had with them a dog, which they shouted to and encouraged in the same manner as when they hunt pigs. We lay quiet until dark, and then went down the plain, and reached the coast at daylight. We hailed a boat, but could not make ourselves heard. We then went across the hills to Ocean Bay. On our way we passed through Robin Hood Bay, where some native? gave us food, and a woman showed us the right track. The natives asked us if we had been at at the fight at the Wairoo. We told them we had not, but had been capsized in a whale boaL I believe that, with the exception of mysflf, „ Tyrrell was the only armed man who crossed the stream.