MURDER IN WAIKATO.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4154, 6 December 1870, Page 3

MURDER IN WAIKATO.

QUARREL BETWEEN NATIVES AND A SURVEY PARTY. The folio wing,, telegram was received in Auckland on November 28 :— "AiiKXANDRA, 12.15 p.m. : Todd's survey party at Pirongia were attacked by natives this morning. The res of the party escaped. Four Maoris only were concerned in the affair. Todd is dead, having, been shot through the head. Death was instantaneous. A half-caste was shot through, the thigh, arm.and side. Frizell and party,Todd's assistants, are in the bush. They have not yet been communicated with. Great fears are entertained for their safety. Todd's body has been brought into camp by the Volunteer" ' It would appear that some time ago Government decided to give a block of land, consisting of about 350 acres, to the Ngatihikairo, as compensation for certain land taken from them during the war in Waikato in 1863. The block selected to be given is situate within the boundary of the confiscated land, on the Pirongia Hill, a mile or two to the westward of Alexandra. The Ngatihikairo are King natives, their- principal chief being Takerei. Whether the quarrel aross about women, or some encroachment upon the land beyond the confiscation boundary, is not clear ; but from the facts given below it would appear to. be of a purely personal character arising out of some fancied or real wrong or indignity. HOW THE ATTACK WAS MADE. Mr. Todd and party had been engaged cutting the confiscated boundary line, in order to mark off the blocks to be allotted to the Ngatihikairo people. At 8 o'clock in the morning the survey party were breakfasting in their tent. There were several Maori women in the tent at the time. Suddenly four armed natives emerged from the adjacent bush within a short distance of the tent, and fired. One ball passed through Mr. Todd's breast, and he died almost instantaneously. The remainder of the party ran into the bush, except a halfcaste who was wounded. He is now rapidly recovering. ESCAPE OF THE REST OF THE PARRY. Frizell and party, Todd's assistants, were further in the bush at the time, and, as no communication was held with them for some hours after the murder, great fears were entertained for their safety. They, however, turned up all right during the clay. MR. TODD'S BODY BROUGHT IN. Very soon after the murder was reported, Mr. Searancke, E.M., and Colonel Lyon hastened to Alexandra. Proper steps were taken to provide for any emergency ; and, a body of Volunteers having been mustered, they proceeded to the scene of the murder, and brought in the body of Mr. Todd. The body were not molested in any way, so that the belief that the murder has been caused by a personal quarrel is strengthened. We believe tho authorities did not regard the matter at all in tho light of an outbreak. THE INQUEST. The inquest took place at the Alexandra Hotel, before Dr. E. Waddington, Coroner, and the following jury :— Messrs. R. H. Reynolds (foreman), Wilson, E. Hope, F. Barker, R. McG-ruther, Asmus, H. Pyle, C. Perry, M. Dillon, J. Jamison, W. Montgomery, and J. Boon. After viewing the body, the first witness called was Thomas Finch, hotel-keeper, who, being sworn, stated: I have seen and recognise the body at the Hospital, as tho late R. Todd, surveyor. I first heard of the murder about 9 o'clock in the morning. On the . arrival of Mr. Peacocke, myself and several other settlers at once proceeded to the scene of the murder, and brought in the body. I could not tell whether tho tent had been robbed ; but Mr. Peacocke, who accompanied us, said the theodolite and leather bag, conta ; ning what 'money they had and papers, were missing, > • The double : barrelled gun produced I found tied to the tent pole. I took possession of it. The remainder of the things are yet, I believe, in the tent. Other witnesses having been examined, the Coroner summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against a native or natives unknown." The jury, as a rider, gave it as their opinion that great neglect and want of feeling was shown by the officer in charge of the Constabulary in not at once sending aid to the wounded. An old settler, writing to a friend in Auckland, says Mr. Todd was warned more than two weeks ago that, if he persisted in pushing his survey beyond a boundary indicated by the King natives, he would be shot ; and they have apparently kept their word. The same writer says, "I am afraid another European also will be sacrified, from what little information I can glean from Aotea direction. Mr. Moore, acting schoolmaster to Mr. Schnackenberg, at Raurau, it appears has very lately become obnoxious to some of the Kingites of Kawhia. The moat conspicuous of the mob is Wati Taki, at the Rakawa. I believe Mr. Moore has been warned again not to return to the Mission-station against their wishes : if he does h's life will be in great danger. lam very much inclined to believe the threat will be carried put if the Mission people are obstinate in the matter. They certainly ought now to take' warning when such is given by determined Kingites, after what has happened to poor Mr. Todd."