THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 66, 27 November 1880, Page 2

THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

Great excitement prevailed yesterday over the murder at Opunake. A thousand rumors were afloat as to what had been done. But as we had made aiT ngements for the receipt of full particulars of the inquest, we preferred to wait for our correspondent's message. It is only fair to state, however, that but one opinion prevailed in Hawera in respect to Mr. Stannard's arrest, viz., that he was certainly innocent. He had only been married a few days, and no one who knew him believed him capable of any sucn crime. The blood on his clothes was accounted for by his having separated two men who were fighting afc Cook's Hotel, last Tuesday night, and his clothing was smeared with blood while doing so. It was rumored at a late hour that Stannard had been released, and two Maoris arrested. Several persons left Hawera for Opunake yesterday to give evidence in favor of Stannard.

Superintendent James left Wanganui at an early hour yesterday afternoon, and telegraphed up to the police barracks here for a horse to be in readiness for him. The Clerk of the Court also received instructions from Captain Wray to be in readiness to attend at Opunake, if called upan. Captain Wray, the coroner, passed through Hawera about 2 p.m., on his way to Opunake, and expected to reach there about 6 p.m. We were disappointed at not receiving further intelligence yesterday evening, especially as arrangem*nts had been made by the Press Association, Wellington, to have the Opunake office kept open until 8 p.m. However, no further news was sent, except the adjournment of the inquest, from which we assume either that there was none, or more probably that the single telegraph wire was fully loaded with Government or other messages concerning the outrage. Such a blocking of the wires cannot be guarded against. Our own correspondent was instructed at noon yesterday to wire full particulars of any fresh intelligence last night, if possible. Great sympathy was felt and expressed for the relations of the deceased, whose unfortunate fate is deeply deplored.