PACKER'S MUEDER.

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 54, 4 March 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

PACKER'S MUEDER.

|#f&A^VCOXFtaSjp.^mLINCASTE v IStPJiIGATEX). (from the Honthhti' drossy 26th February.) Yesterday intelligence of a most extraordinary character waa received by telegraph from the Waikato by Mr. Kemp, Civil Commissioner, respecting the present whereabouts of Winiata, the murderer, and the circumstances under which the murder was committed. The facts we have learned are as follows :— Yesterday Te Wheoro telegraphed to the authorities of the Native Department that rumors had reached him, through natives visiting Alexandra frcn the King country,' that Winiata had arrived there, and was now under the protection^ of his relatives. Te Wheoro, however, stated that the rumors were not substantiated by authentic information, and that ho was engaged with Major Mail- in endeavoring to obtain turther evidence. At a later hour yesterday ! very lengthy telegrams were received j from both Major Mair and Te Wheoro, containing intelligence of a most extraordinary character. According to these "telegrams Winiata wan on Wednesday last at a native settlement called Te Waotu, in the Maungatautari ranges, and thence he made his way to a settlement near Hangitaki, probably Pukeruopau. Winiata was met on the way by a party of natives, amongst whom was the, present infqrtii iiit ; and, in the^-courst* of a conversition, Winiata told a 'circumstantial 9tory of the murder. He said that on the day before the murder he was' in company with a half-caste — a tall, powerful man, who had formerly worked with him for Europeans — and whose relatives are among the Ngapuhis in the North. Edwin Packer wfas; precept, and, an altercation having occurred with regard to moneymatters, Packer swore nt the half-caste. Thirf soincensed him that he afterwards proposed to Winiata that they should murder Packer in the night while he was asleep. Winiata says he- refused to consent to commit the crime ; but very early in the morning the halfcaste got up and said he was going to murder Packer, to revenge the insult given him, and to steal the money he was supposed to have. The half-caste then seized an American axe and .set out for the house in which Packer was known to sleep, and he (Winiata) accompanied him. As they approached the "room PackeT^vllo^vas ~ ttwakeV "halloed" at them, and they were afraid that their intention would be discovered arid frustrated. However, they entered the room, and the halfcaste, seeing Packer about to get _ out of bed, swung the axe, and struck him a blow on tne head. This, however, did not * kill him, and then Winiata caught up a bill-hook and struck a second blow, which resulted fatally. The two then seized Packer's money, and divided it between them, after which they earned the body out, intending to bury it in a grave which one of them (Winiata's accomplice) had previously dug. In this, however, they were interrupted, and, as it was daylight, they feared that they would be detected. Accordingly they dragged the body to a place where some posts were lying, and hastily covered it, leaving the legs exposed. Then they separated, Winiata going to Orakei, in order to getjoff the main line Of road, and to ob^ain/food for HiU jotbney— J the half-caste intending to go North, in order to join his relatives. I