PACKER'S MURDER.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 2364, 8 March 1876, Page 2

PACKER'S MURDER.

TVINXATA'S CONFESSION. — A HALF-CASTE IMPLICATED.

[southern cross, feb. 26.] Yesterday intelligence of a most extraordinary character was 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 information comes from Major Te Wheoro, the Maori agent for the Government in the Waikato, and Major Mair, the Resident Magistrate of Waipu, both of whom have seen and conversed with credible natives from the King country, who visited Alexandra yesterday. If the statements they make are to be believed, Winiata is now in the King country beyond the reach of pursuit, and secondly, the true story of the murder has not yet been told. According to their account, which is derived from Winiata himself, the murder was not committed by him alone 33 was hitherto supposed, but he was aided in the commission of the crime by a halfcaste, who immediately afterwards went north. If there is any truth in this story — and it will be the duty of the police to sift it to the bottom— the statement of the boy Yercoe as to a half-caste with blood-stained trousers galloping furiously past Henderson's Mill is precisely true, and the man thus seen must have been the accomplice of Winiata. The facts we have learned are as follows ;— "Yesterday, Te Wheoro telegraphed to the authorities of the Native Department that rumors had reaphed him, through natives visiting Alexandra from the King country, that Winiata had j 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 he was engaged with Major Mair in endeavoring to obtain further evidence. At a later hour, yesterday, very lengthy telegrams were received from both Major Mair and Te Wheoro, containing intelligence of a most extraordinary character. According to these telegrams Winiata was on Wednesday last at a native settlement called Te Waotu, in the Mauugatautari ranges, and thence he had made his way to a settlement near IJangatiki, probably Pukeruopau. Winiata was met on the way by a party of natives, amongst whom was the present informant ; and, in the course of a conversation, Winiata told a circumstantial story of the murder. He said that on the day before the murder he was in company with a half-caßte— a tall,

powerful man, who had formerly worked with him for Europeans— aud whose relatives are amongst the Ngapuhis in the North. Edwin Packer was present, and, an altercation having occurred with regard to money matters, Packer swore at the half-caste. This so incensed 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 half-, caste got up and said he was going tb murder Packer, to revenge the insult he had given him, and to steal the monejy which 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, Packer, who was awake, *'hatloaed" at them, and they were afraiil that their intention would be discovered and frustrated. However, they entered the room, and the half-caste seeing Packer about to get out of the bed, swung the axe and struck him a blow on the head. This, however, did not kill him, and theh Winiata caught u^ 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 carried 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 ii, leaving the legs exposed. They thei separated, Winiata going to Orakei in order to get off the main line of road, and to obtain food for his journey — the hall> cast intending to go north, in order ib join his relatives. Winiata further Btatek that he had had considerable difficulty in getting through the settled country in the Auckland district, and was obliged to lie concealed for several days, frequently changing his hiding-places in order tb baffle pursuit. This is precisely the story told to Major Mair and Te Wheoro by the King native, and he is corroborated by other natives who were in the party that met Winiata on his way to Hangartiki. As soon as the above information was received, Mr Kemp lost no time in furnishing translations of the telegrams to Inspector Broham, with a request to make careful inquiries as to the halfcaste, who is said to have been Winiata's accomplice, and doubtless in a few days some further light will be thrown on this extraordinary version of the murder. We may say, however, that the account given of Winiata's conduct is in no way at variance with Maori custom. A native who had committed a crime would be likely to make no concealment of the facts as soon as he believed himself under the protection of friends and sympathisers. In fact, where the victim is a European^ and the Maori murderer is amongst Hauhaus, he usually boasts of the deed, of course, giving such a version of the facts as will be likely to justify the crime in the eyes of the natives. In illustration of this it may be mentioned that Major Mair's informant stated that he asked Winiata what was the " take," or cause of the murder, and upon being informed that the half-caste had not retaliated upon Packer when the latter cursed him, expressed the opinion that the murder was done justitiably — the justification, or "take," in the eyes of the natives being the kanga, or curse. . According to native custom a Maori who curses another is liable to be stripped of his property, and, if the injury is serious, to be slain. It is worthy of remark that rumors have been current as to the mysterious disappearance of a halfcaste who worked with Winiata some time before the murder of Edwin Packer, and it was suspected' that he had been put out of the way by Winiata. If the above story should turn out to be true, it may transpire that the missing man was Winiata's accomplice in the murder of Packer, and the story of the lad Vercoe may be confirmed.

We may mention that Major Mair ha 3 been authorised by the Government to increase the reward offered for the capture of Winiata to L2OO.