STORY OF PARAKAIA TE KORAU IN REFERENCE TO THE MOANATUATUA MURDER.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIX, Issue 4894, 3 May 1873, Page 6

STORY OF PARAKAIA TE KORAU IN REFERENCE TO THE MOANATUATUA MURDER.

The following appeared in tho Waikalo Timti of Tuesday, April 29:— "I wa3 out looking after ray horse on. Mr. Walker's run when I was seized by Purukutu aud two others, named Hori To Tumu (own father to Tarika Te Hura.) and Horewmi. They then conveyed me a prisoner to their village, Te Koukou, about 1 1 miles fro ji Cambridge, and I found there Paora 1 ub.ua, Parata, Whina, Poutururo, Hone Wharowhavo, and Uira Tarawhati. They then pulled tho hairs out of tho forehead of my horse as an offering to the Atua. In tho evening I was taken to Ngahokowhitu, and detained until the Thursday. Those left to guard me weio Poutuvuru, Hone, and Parata. Purukutu and the others left, and roturned on the Thursday, when I was liberated. They brought aometuiug in a, bag, which I now understand was the head of the pakeha killed. Purukutu said thoy had killed a pakeha ; that the others got away ; that after killing him Whiua followed up the others aud lay in ambush for the two men on the dray (i.e., Mr. Parker and man). Purukutu desired him to leave off the pursuit, and that was tho reason the gun missed fire when Mr. Parker escaped. The Atua was angry because his prophet was disobeyed."

Fromths published depositions taken at the inquest held at Cambridge on the body of Timothy Sullivan, it would appear that friendly Maoris had given several distinct warnings that the murder of some European was contemplated. '( his will bo evident from the testimony of the following witnesses : — Henry Travels, swoin, said: On Wednesday, April 23, I received a verbal notice from a Maori boy, telling me that the Hauhaus wore lodt or missing. I asked him how many there were ? He answered two, Paora and Bill. On my road home I told Mr. Jones what I had heard. P.iua is the name of the boy who gave mo tho information. I had been so often warned that I take no notice of it.— E. Kirkwood, sworn, said : About a fortnight ago 1 was playing cricket at Cambridge. A native came up aud spoke to me. I did riot know his name. I wanted to get rid of him, and he said, "1 have something to say to you. *' Ho said some Europeans are going to be killed. I laughed at him, and ho said it was true. I asked who was going to kill them. lie said tho Hauhaus. I then asked, "Do they mean to fijlit?" He said, " No ; they simply mean to murder." I aalcod where it was going to happeu, and he pointed to Moanavale, iaotaoroa, and Matamata ; it might bo there, or there, or there. I made light of what he said, and ho remarked," When I'm gone you will remember my words." I know the man to bo a Hauhau. — Taira te Hura, sworn, said : A native named Martin came to mo from Areteliaha, and said to me, " Tell Jones to be careful. The natives arc deter >nined to kill him." I came into Cambridge, and sent a boy to tell Jones to come iuto Oainbridgo to me. When he came I told him what I had heard, and not to sleep at out-stations ; to do hi3 work in daylight, and to bring a gun with him. Martin said that the danger was to be expected from tho Aretetaha people, and not from the Hduhaus generally. On Monday, tho 28th April, our Alexandra correspondent thus wrote on the subject of tbo native meeting at Tokangamutu, and the murder of Sullivan at tho Moanatuatua swamp last week :— " I telegraphed to you yesterday that Tawhiao and party left Hiuturu yesterday and reached Orahiri las.t night. As the weather is so bad there is little chanco of a meeting at the Kuiti today. The murder of Sullivan has upset all their arrangements. That it will bo tho principal topio brought forward there is little doubt. AH the Kiugitea I have seen have expressed great dissatisfaction with the murderers. They seem to think tho loader muse have been a man named Paikauri, who was concerned in tho attack on two Europeans at Cambridgo some time since on that occasiou. He spread a report amongst the natives that he had killed four pakehas himself. (-11 the truth becoming known to them, he was soundly rated for his lies. No doubt he took poor Sullivan's head as a proof to show to his people. There is great indignation hero, aud I hear it is proposed to get up a meeting to petition Government to take some decided steps for tho arrest and punishment of the murderers. It is to bo hoped that the Kingites will give them up, as war would cause ruin to many a now thriving settler. Yet wo must not forget that too many outrages have now been committed in tho Wtiikato with impunity. There was poor Todd, who was murdered in Pirongia ; the two men, Curloy and Crow, who wero also fired at at the same place ; John Lyon, murdered at Orakau ; aud uow, poor Sullivan, barbarously mutilated. For none of these outrages havo as yet tho perpetrators been brought to justice. No one now feels secure but that it may bo his own turn next. Houco tho strong feeling now existing amongst tho settleis that justice should bo satisfied in this last case at any cost." Tho following is tho letter of our resident correspondent at Te Awamutu, who wrote on the same day :— " On the news reaching ho e on Friday last of the determined attack by natives on Messrs. Walkor and Parker's workmen in the Moanatuatuo Swamp, and the savage murder of tho poor man Sullivan, great horror and indignation wero felt. An attempt, wa9 made by a uumbar of tho settlers to get up a pulilio meeting hero on Saturday last, to consider what step3 should be taken to punish the lionds ot tho Aratiti settlement, who it is said deliberately and coolly planned the murder, and whose proximity to our border ia known to be extremely dangerous to the lives, property, and peace of the settlors located noar tho confiscated boundary. Majur Jackson, M.H.It., aud Mr. Paiker were present (the gontleuum who so narrowly escaped with hit life on the occasion),

a n d advised that no meeting should bo hold and no action taken in the matter until tho decision of the Government were known. Mr. Parker said that he would convey to tha Cambridge pcoplo the sentiments of their frieuds of Te Awamutu, and their deiire to stamp out both the Aratiti and Wharepapa natives. — The force at Orakau block-house was strengthened on Saturday last by a detachment of tho Armed Constabulary. Tho Kihikibi post will also bo reinforced today from Hamilton." Tho Waikato Times thus comments upon the inquest held upon the unfortunate man Sullivan, and the steps tho Government are taking to capture his murderers :—"Horrible indeed was the tale told at tho inquest which lma jusfc been held on tho body of tho unfortunate man Sullivan. The crime is all tho mores heinous because it was perpetrated by those wo have been tiying to civilise for nearly half a century. Murders are usually committed by men who have grudges against their victhns ; but in this instanco which it has been our painful duty to record, the murdered man was in all probability not even known to tho murderer and hia accomplices. Ho was, apparently, killed for tho purpose of creating a breach in that peaoe which Maoris and Europeans have enjoyed for a considerable time past. The actors in the latemassacre arenotmen of any statusamongst their own people ; by the commission of the foul act they had therefore nothing to lose, and a chance of gaining something. Without doubt the Government is acting in a manner that must meet with the approval of every intelligent settler. It has sent Mr. Maokay to gather full particulars. Ho ha3 been on tho Bpot where tho murder was committed,has taken all the evidence procurable, and, we believe, is quite cognisant of the names of the culprits. The story of Parakaia te Korau, which we have printed in another column, is in itself most conclusive as to the identity of those who participated in the crime. As the names are known, the owners must be speedily brought to justice. We hear on all sides that the ' King 1 will not shield them, and we are inclined to believe it. Such being the case, all that may be anticipated will be a civil trial, which will doubtless end in tho demands of justice being satisfied. Let us wait until the Government have had ample time to mature their plans of operation." Wo take tho following from the Waikalo Times:— "Tho half-caste girl Te Waonui went on last Friday to Pukekura to get her horsp, and, as she was afraid, she slept at the hut of an iinbecilo old man called Herea. He informed her that tho four who pursued the whites were Purukutu, Whina, Herewini, and Uira Tarawhati. Mr. Mackay is at Cambridge. He started with six men yesterday to define exactly tho placo at which the murder occurred. It is generally believed that tho natives will not shelter the murderers. Tan», Thompson's son, who was at Cambridge yesterday, says that he will not do ao. The Ngatiraukawas have a number of men under arms to protect their surveyors, and to act on tho defensive. This will have the effect of checking tho 'King' movement." In an article upon the Waikato murder in the Thames Aduertiser of April 29, the following remarks occur :—" There is some doubt here as to the man who is said to have beon the chief of the party which committed tho mimler. He was first called Purukutu, then Poutururu, and against tho last name was the verdict of the coroner's inquest directed. Tho natives here are not quite sure whether both these names refer to the samo person. Purukutu has been heard of here for some time, as a man who wa« anxious to distinguish himself in some way against the pakehas. It was mentioned in the newspapers some timo ago that there was a party in Waikato anxious to go and attack tho men who were engaged iu making tho roads at Taupo; and Parukutu was spoken of as the intended chief of tho party. Probably it was tho same man who killed Sullivan. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to say that, whatever the King may do in the circumstances, To Hira and tho Ohineinuri people will keep strictly neutral, as to acta." It wa3 reported on April 30 that Mr. Hay, , who has for Homo tuno past been engaged > on surveys in the Waikato district, had come in. He did not consider himself in any danger in the field, but his frieuds and | the Government authorities there thougkt ib better that he should come in while the negotiations are going on respecting Sulli- ; van's murderers.