FATAL AFFRAY AT OXFORD, WAIKATO.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3553, 28 December 1881, Page 2

FATAL AFFRAY AT OXFORD, WAIKATO.

A Native Murdered over a Wager.

I'akticulak.s are to hand of a fatal affray which took pace at the Oxford (Waikato) racecourse oa Monday lust. It would appear that two natives, brothers, had a dispute over a paltry live shilling bet, which ended in one of them, Hoani te Tern, boiug Btabbcd to the heart. Two natives have bceu arrested, and an inquest was to be held at the Oxford Hotel to-day- The nativee, misunderstanding the cause, were very much exercised at the retention of tho body ot the murdered man, aud threatened to deinolioh the hotel if it was not given up. The police at onco communicated with Mr Scarancke, the coroner at Hamilton, and thiit gentleman wired to the natives to wait his arrival quietly. This would appear to havo hud the desired effect. Oxford, we miiy mention, is a township about 25 miles from lluiuilton. Our Cambridge correspondent telegraphed last night as follows : —"A Maori murdered ami (her on tho raccoourse at Oxford yesterday. Cause : a disputed hot. Two natives have been arroßtod and brought to Cambridge by constables l'itzpritrirk and Has tic." Our Hamilton correspondent Bends the following additional particulars :■—

"A native named Hoani Tckcre was murdered on tho Oxford racecourse yesterday, in a dispute, said to be over a bet of ss. Ho was stabbed in the heart, death boing insUutanoous.

Two natives have been arrested, Peiua Tahipara and Mikeara Topnpa. An inquest will be held to-day at the Oxford Hotel."

Mr Superintendent Thomson is in receipt of the following message concerning thi.'i painful affair : — " A native named Hoani Takcrc was murdered on the Oxford racecourse yestorday, being stabbed in the heart with a pocketknife, causing instantaneous death. Said to bo a Maori row over a disputed bet of five shillings. "Two natives are arrested charged with the offence named Pieua Takepapa and Whikerea to Papa. " The dead body has been removed to the Oxford Hotel to await coroner's inqncfit. "Re murder at Oxford,Mr [Scarancke, coroner, will bold an inquest at Oxford at 12 noon to-morrow."