WANGANUI,

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 953, 20 June 1868, Page 3

WANGANUI,

Times Office, Wanganui, lOfcli June, 1868. C-ijr Patea correspondent, tinder yesteis day's date, writes the following hurried sentences : — lt Another foul murder has been corniiiitted by the Hau Hans in this district. The victim this time is old Sergeant Cahill, who had taken xip his land and resided upon it, within the clearing at Ketemarae. Mr. Booth and Captain lloss were out today in that direction, and have just returned. They saw numbers of armed Hau Haus, who told them to go back to Patea. Just whilst writing I hear that Captain Cummins. is going to march out to-night with all the men he can muster. Colonel McDonnell is not here ; I am told lie is on sick leave. " A mounted trooper is going to start for Wanganui. I will keep you advised of things as they turn up. There is only a very weak force here to meet any emergency. We are all anxious to see Colonel McDonnell, but he is on leave; Things look uglyj" Since the foregoing was in type, we have received reliable intelligence of a very unsatisfactory report, which we trust may be without foundation. It is that the natives who murdered Cahill are acting under the instructions of the Maori King in expelling Europeans from their district. At all events, they assert that such is the case, but we must hear further upon that subject before we credit it. Before noon yesterday Colonel M'Donnell, although on a month's leave, started for Patea, and would reach there in a few hours. Whether a dread of the Pokaikai Commission will deter him from trying to put a stop to these foul murders, remains to be seen. At all events, he cannot do much with the few men under his command, and the few settlers at Patea would be hardly sufficient to keep the camp during the absence of the constabulary. The Evening Herald adds : — " Colonel McDonnell is probably by this time with the force that Captain Cummins has taken to Waihu. We believe it is his determination to do his work thoroughly without regard to any interference that any civil officer whomsoever may attempt, and to accomplish a severe punishment on. the murderers of Sergeant Cahill. He considers that a force of 200 men should be immediately enrolled to scour the district, and let measures now be thorough, in reality as well as in official orders.