HORRIBLE MURDER OF THE REV. MR. VOLKNER.

Bruce Herald, Volume II, Issue 51, 30 March 1865, Page 7

HORRIBLE MURDER OF THE REV. MR. VOLKNER.

On the Eclipse arriving at Opotiki the Rev. Mr Volkner went ashore. He was immediately seized by the natives, who had previously robbed his house, and taken up to tlie willow trees growing beside the church. Inside the enclosure there he saw a rope hanging from a bough, and attached to a block and tackle. He inquired what they meant to do; they replied, "to hang you." He asked to be allowed to pray first, and this they perj£* mitted. After' praying, he took out his money, fifteen sovereigns, and a gold watch, and gave borh t" them. They then ordered him to take off his coat, which he did. He was next told to take off his waistcoat, which was done. He was then pinioned, and the noose thrown over his head, and he was at once triced up by means of the pulley. The natives say that he did not appear to suffer. Before he was quite elead he was lowered and decapitated; the eyes were gouged out and eaten; he was then disembowelled, and his heart torn out and devoured. The body and entrails were then thrown over the church enclosure to the dogs. The brains were next taken out and broiled, and made an offering to their god,, after which the brains were eaten. All this occurred in less than three hours from the time the unhappy gentleman went on shore. The members of Mr Volkner's church,, whom he had lived amongst and taught for years, and to whose fidelity he had crusted with unshaken L) iaith during' the war, stood by consenting to his death. His death had been determined on before his arrival, and prepara-

tions made for his execution, and although his congregation did not actually lay hands upon him,, they were aiding and abetting. We leave- this fact to speak for itself.. • After tlie horrible cannibal feast was done, the head was puc through the preserving process, well known to Maoris, and which we had in charity hoped would never have been resorted to by them. The Rev. Mr Grace and other Europeans were then captured, and the fanatics commenced their journey southward. The natives gave two reasons for Mr T'olkner's murder ; one of these is a special reason, and one is general. A special reason is that the Opotiki natives had been told that Mr Volkner reported to the Governor that they were carrying on n secret correspondence with the rebels through an agency, which,, for the present, we refrain from mentioning. The general reason is this, that they attribute the war to the Missionaries. They say thty came first to the colony and bought land ; that the Government came next, and the Missionaries used their influence to buy land for the Government, anu that from this cause the present war sprung. The fanatics declare, therefore, that they will murder all the missionaries. — ' Southern Cross/