NATIVE OUTRAGE NEAR PATEA. THREE EUROPEANS MURDERED.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3405, 15 June 1868, Page 4

NATIVE OUTRAGE NEAR PATEA. THREE EUROPEANS MURDERED.

W»have to acknowledge the oourtesy of Mr. W. H. J. Seffern, of the TKnxukiffenld, in forwarding copies of the following extra issued from the office of that journal on Saturday la«tj also to Mr. Tillotson, purser of the 'Airedale,' for conveyance and delivery of the special messages :—

k . , June 13. m A rumour of a rather unpleasant nature has been circulating through the town this morning, but like aU rumours no authentic foundation for it has been get-at-able. The rumour spoken of has been exaggerated into a fight with the natives at Patea, and that three men had been killed. The source from which this information comes ia by way of three men who started on Wednesday morning last to walk overland to Patea, and who returned last night. From their statement this rumour of a fight between me natives and the Aimed Constabulary has arisen. It appears that two men, Patrick Hogearty and % }'\\ l * nBy l * nd * h °7 am9d J«me« Higgins, started from here on Wednesday morning last, and T£ ed ?? 7L ura<^y noon at Ti » Iok *» new the wreck of the old < Marohiones.«.' Here they were met by some natives- young (men and boys -who demanded money. The men told them that they had none, so the Maoris proceeded to search for tobacco .and them. They then went on, three of the natives folowing them for over half a mile, when they bid them" good day » and went back. The men prooeeded on m i far as Umeroa (about five miles this side 111? f t }> wheQ l t y *B*m met some natives, amongst whom was Tamati (formerly amailmao) «Z J *S. V Were b °™d for Pfttea » he ***<* h?ZJP*Ti tt A 0> * nd> oa bein S Mked the re* Bo ", three white men bad been killed?. The men consequently turned back, and hence the rumour that has been floating about the town. The only reason to fear that something has happened is from the fact toatthe weekly mail, that should have been here on Wednesday last, has not arrived at the present time. Otter suppositions are floating about, but really aotbmg to warrant us in *ayjDg that the affair is anything more than a vague rumour. Two gentlemen who left hrre on Thursday last on horseback — Mr. Kiohmond Hursthouse and Mr. Jlaigix— have cot returned :it is therefore presumed on the other side that nothiog has happened: for these men, who have brought this information, say they aaw the gentlemen on horseback a-head of titiem.

Since the above has been issueJ, the mill has i*!£ V w m^ te «' *? dMr ' P * tri " h»a received a letter from Mr. Booth, R.M., dated Waihi, 10th June. Mr. Parris has kindly given us the following iofor mation : — ° A military settler named Sergeant Cohill, and two oth-rs, were attacked while putti D g a log on a saw pit in the Ketemarai bu«»h, and murdered by ten men from the Te Ngutu o te Manu. /*i. Al i, i^ UMt yrasto be held on the following day \tne 11 in). ° J inTu* P< ' k * hohi chie fe tendered allegianoe on the lotb, and have pledged themselves to protect the European settlers. *J W oi A n t T it< >' Ibe 1 be ! OD Si n g to the Ngahuia, have also tendered their allegiance to the Queen 6 The Keteonetea natives have sent in the settlers. The murder was oommitted by 10 natives supposed to come f rom Pongarao. Cohill and the other two men were ]ust faxing a heavy log on the pit when the fft T 8 % Twoof them were.bot through the heart, and they were all dreadfully tomahawkeTi. returned through their land Some one took the "intelligence to Waihl, when a p«rty went out to fetoh the bodies. The n»tires near Turuturum'oku have pledged themselves to defend the Europeans. P q w£. oritieB b * re Heut t0 WelliD s ton «« ma^'in'cl P."?' b o g ° ne i frOm P * te * wifch thirfc y men, and Captain Ross wiih twenty-flve This forri Will be quite^nfficient to protect the d?strict