BRUTAL, MURDER AT WAIAPU.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 211, 5 September 1878, Page 2

BRUTAL, MURDER AT WAIAPU.

On Tuesday eveaing, the Hon. Mr. Shoehan , Native Minister, received a telegram from Waiapu, Poverty Bay, announcing that a native woman had been murdered under very brutal circumstances. The particulars were very mflagre, and Mr. Sheehan telegraphed for further details. He yesterday received a second telegram, which he read in the House. From these telegrams, and from others received by natives from the Poverty Bay district at present in Wellington, it appears that a party of natives were carousing at an accommodation house at Waiotantu, near Te Awonui, kept by a native. In the evening they left for thenkianga, all being more or less intoxicated. The murdered woman, who had been drinking freely, was ahead, but she was overtaken by two men of note among the natives. They outraged th.c woman and afterwards murdered her. The telegrams received by the natives in Wellington give "drunkenness and adultery" as the cauge of the crime. The Resident Magistrate at G,isborno states that the natives have instituted an inquiry into the circumstances, but it is nntiefpated that the position of the suspected men will enable them to escape. However, the Government have determined to do all in their power to bring the murderers to justice, and in response to instructions from Wellington, a sergeant and two troopers Immediately left Gisborne for Waiapu to arrest the men. . '