THE TUHUA TRAGEDY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 62, 13 November 1880, Page 2

THE TUHUA TRAGEDY.

A pakeha-Maoei named Moffatt, who was convicted some two years ago of making gunpowder for the use of the Maoris, has been shot near Taumaranui, at the head of the Wanganui river, in the Tuhua district. According to one report, he was first warned to return, as the Tuhua Maoris objected to the presence of a white man in their midst. A meeting of the chiefs at Tauzaaranui was held, and it was decided that th© unwelcome visitor, who had journeyed down from Taupo as far as Matahanea with a native named. Henry, should be shot. The Maoris who were told off to slay the pakeha formed an am■buscade on Monday last, and shot Moffatt in cold blood at a ten yards range, from an ambuscade in the fern on the track where he was going ; two separate shots being fired at him. His companion, Henry, called upon them to shoot him also, as they had slain his comrade ; but this they refused to do. We believe that Tuhua has never been explored by Europeans, and that the chiefs have been strongly hostile to the pakeha for many years. Henry, the Maori, was afterwards allowed to proceed down the Wanganui river in a canoe, and on meeting Kemp, was urged hy him to proceed at once to inform the authorities of what had happened. We are anxious, as far as possible, to avoid embarasssing the Government by commenting too freely upon a matter which is unfortunately but too serious. The simple fact that the Maoris thought themselves justified in slaying a pakeha intruder into their territory, simply faecause ho was a European, sinnHs out sufficiently clear. The chiefs assembled, and resolved to assert their absolute independence of any superior power, and calmly and deliberately ordered the rash man to be shot. It seems strange that v PakehaMaori, who had but recently suffered two years' imprisonment for supplying ammunition to the Maoris, to be used against the Europeans, should be slain simply because he had a white skin. We know the present Native Minister to be a staunch friend and supporter of law and order, and our own representative is sufficiently jealous of the prestige of his nation. The presence of these two men in the Cabinet is, in our opinion, a sufficient guarantee that the murderers will not long be allowed to set the law at defiance with impunity. The Executive have, however, a very dif&ealk task oeiore them, and are likely to be slow to resolve oa the best course to be adopted to bring the offenders to justice. Though they may be slow to resolve, they are likely to be swift to execute their d cision, whatever it may be ; and we can but express a hope that a distinct and definite course of action may be declared and adhered to. It is, of course, just possible that the Executive should decide that, as Moffatt had placed his head in the lion's jaws, he only Buffered, the jusfc penalty for his foolhardiness ; and to declare that they were not at present prepared to protect life. and property, acconliug to European law, in that particular district. If such should be their decision, we trust that it will be boldly and openly admitted, so that future explorers may know where they, carry their lives in their own hands, and be prepared to take measures accordingly.