THE OPOTIKI MURDER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1381, 1 April 1865, Page 5

THE OPOTIKI MURDER.

(From the Southern Cross, March 20,) DIAItr or CAPTAIN LKVir, SCHOONER ECIJI'SK, FKOM AUCKLAND TO OPOTfKI AND HACK. Sunday, February 26.-—Left Auckland at 4 p.m., with the'iievs. Messrs, Grace und Volkner, as passengers to Opotiki.

Wednesday, March I.—About ten a.m. ail hands much pleased at our going in over the bar, as we did not expect to go in that day. At about halfpast ten sailed up the river, expecting to find everything quiet as usual. Surprised to see such a number of natives assembled on the bank of the river. My brother (Samuel) who had charge of the store, when he saw the two rev. gentlemen on board, was quite aghast at their coming at the very worst time, for the natives had only the previous day registered an oatli to kill every minister or soldier they came across, immediately called out to us to put on the hatches, and take the rev. gentlemen below, as the natives were all anxious to get at them, and some having ropes in their hands ready to bind them. Mr. Samuel Levy and Tiwai, the native interpreter, came on board, and told us of the intentions and doings of the natives. They likewise told j the rev. gentlemen of their perilous position, and advised them to effect their escape. It was arranged with Mr. Volkner and ourselves to escape that night if they were left on board, Tiwai offering to find horses, and myself to take them to a certain point up the river. The natives swore vengeance, and told us all of their intention of putting them to death. I went on shore in order to satisfy myself of the truth of these statements by inquiries from natives I myself knew. I went back and informed'the rev. gentletlemen of what I had heard, and advised their escape. They were left on board for some time, and took dinner, when all hands were ordered to come ashore, much to my surprise. Two or three natives rushed with ropes upon Mr. Volkner. I pushed them on one side. They then took them to a whare, at the same time assuring myself and brother that as they were all of our religion (Jews) we need not fear, for we should not be molested. The crew were locked up with the rev. gentlemen, and a guard of 20 men, with doubied-barrelled guns, set to watch them. The natives then went on board the schooner to secure the rev. gentlemen's property, but finding it mixed with the cargo, and being unable to separate it, they took the whole cargo ashore to my store, locking the door and giving the key to ray brother, until the trial of the ministers, when we should be required to pick out our goods. I did what I could, as well as my brother, all this time to appease the natives. We went to the Taranaki chiefs, who were the principal instigators of the mischief, and were well received, because of our religion. Mr. Volkner gave my brother his money)* so ore £16 19s, as he saw there was great danger. Thursday, M#rch 2—About eight o'clock, the rev. gentleman feeing still locked up, as well as the crew, and a strong guard over them, a messenger was sent to inform me that the rev. Mr. Volkner wished to speak to me. I was warned by the natives not to have any communication with him. I sent wofd secretly, that if he would walk outside the whare I would come near and speak with him. I saw the Taranaki chiefs, and got permission for the gentlemen to walk outside for a short time. About nine o'clock I went to the whare, and the rev. gentlemen informed me that they believed. all the natives wanted was plunder, and recommended me to give up everything, as well as the vessel itself, to save bloodshed, as they believed they were both to die. I went with Dr. Agazzis (a trader there) to the Taranaki chiefs, and ofl'ered them everything in the stores, the vessel, all our cattle, as well as everything we possessed, for the lives of the two ministers. This they accepted at the time, one of the chiefs taking my coat and vest, and watch and chain from off my | person and wearing them himself, as an earnest of! the bargain. Two chiefs then went to speak to the rev. captives, and informed them that they could go back to Auckland with me, at the same time, begging some shirts and other small things from them. | After tbis conversation, Mr. Volkner put a little more faith in hope, sending for ray brother, and re- I ceiving his money back, as he thought all would be J right. My brother and myself then went amongst the natives, and heard great whisperings, and on inquiry were told that the natives had gone for their guns in order to shoot the rev. gentleman, They told us that a ring was to be formed and the two men placed in the centre, and every man as he passed a certain mark was to Are at them. There were about two hundred guns in the shooting party, but when they heard that the goods and vessel had been given up to them it altered their plans. When the party arrived there was tremendous yelling and shooting from every native. The excitement had reached its utmost point. I nextsaw a party of halfcastes going towards the whare, and thought it advisable to move out of the way. The party asked for Mr. Volkner, who came out without his hat, and then returned for it, apparently pleased, as the native had told him they were going to take him to a meeting; but, alas for him, it was the meeting of death. As he was walking with them they told him their object. The rev. gentleman then asked permission to stay near the church and pray for five minutes, which they acceded to. He sent oue of the natives for his prayerbook, and whilst this was taking place the natives sent on board the vessel for a block and strap, which they made fast to the topmost branches of a large willow tree, about 200 yards from the church. About 800 natives had now assembled, and Mr. Volkner was marched under the tree. The natives took off his coat, vest, and shirt, which the principal chief put on, being quite pleased with the watch and chain. This chief was Kereope, of Maketu, who was travelling with the Taranakis, and a main cause of all the evil. Poor Volkner had only his flannel and trousers left to cover his nakedness. He manifested the greatest calmness throughout, and shook hands with many of the natives whilst they were tying his handkerchief over his eyes and hauling him up to the fatal branch. The natives marvelled greatly at the tears running from Mr. Volkner'a eyes. They did not pinion either arms or logs, but left him to dangle for nearly an hour in the air, whilst some of the natives were hauling at im legs to get off his boots and trousers, sharing what was in the pockets whilst he hung over them. One of the natives also put on the trousers in the dying man's presence. After letting the body hang about half an hour.it was lowered and taken to the church, near which they fenced in a place, spread the body out in the form of a cross, and proceeded to cut oil tho head, the body being still warm, and symptoms of life being yet apparent, The inhuman fellows then carefully cut the flesh round the chest and back, and chopped off the neck with an old axe. I he natives then formed themselves into a line, aud prepared to taste the blood as it ran out of the head and body. Amongst the women there was a fearful scramble as to who should have tho most. What blood dropped on the ground they painted their faces with. Tho chief Kereope took out the eyes with his flnirers and eat them before the crowd, in order to show them an example. Tho flesh of the neck was then stripped off, and given to the dogs, a number of which were around the place. A tight Arose amongst tho dof?s, and the natives threw tne body to them. After it had been gnawed for some time by the dogs, the natives took It up and threw it down a water-closet close at hand. In the evening tho natives told me they had buried the body. Shortly after the occurrence, I was walking with my brother in the fern, when four natives, with double-barrelled guns, came up, and told us we were wanted. We followed them to the house of Mr. William Hooper, a settler, who has lived there some seventeen years, when, to our great surprise, we

found the whole of the European inhabitants, nineteen In number, assembled with their hawk ti«l behind their backs, with the Rev. Mr. Grace union gut them. Myself and brother were served the same. Every pocket was rifled of its contents, and we thought our time had also come to die. We had not remained long in that position when we heard a disturbance outside, which we discovered was caused by the Taranftkis hearing that the Jews were tied up. One of them rushed in and cut us loose, and told us we were all at perfect liberty except Mr. Grace. We left the house in the greatest dread. Whilst this was transpiring, the nathe? visited Mr. Hooper, w|j., was suffering from consumption, pulled him out of bed in order to steal tin; blankets fn m under him, and taking away every tiling moveable. At this time the Iter, Mr, Grace did not know Unit poor Volkner was murdered, in the evening a meeting was held in the Catholic Chapel, winch my brother and myself attended, when the bleeding head of poor Volkner was placed on the pulpit, and remained there until the native* went through all their brutal forms of yelling and dancing to it, when it was taken to a copper Maori to be cleaned and dried. The natives took all the sailor#' blankets off the vessel, and everything they possessed, so that they had to sleep in Hooper's house with Mr. Grace. The church be!i was ringing all night, and the infernal hopper (a kind of whistle) sounding every half-hour, to call the natives to different meetings. Most of the women remained in the church going through their new form of religion. Myself and brother slept at Tiwai's house. Friday, March 23.—The first thing I saw on going to the gate of the yard Urn morning, was poor Volkner's head in a kapera Maori, with an old man smoothing down the cheeks, in order to keep the wrinkles out, Tito natives spent, this morning in sharing the spoil. Being sixteen tribes, it was divided into sixteen lots, each lot to be sub-divided amongst men. We were all assured of our safety, except Mr. Grace, whose fate was now to be reserved for the great Jew, I'otare. to decide. A meeting was held, which rnyeelf and brother and Tiwai attended, by the advice of the Rev. Mr. Grace, in order, if possible, to arrange for a ransom lor him. I offered .£SOO, and then £l,oao, which was indignantly refused, they telling us that not even £8,000, or any money, would get Mr. Grace away from them,as they fully intended to take him to Taranaki as their slave. I gave many presents to the Taranakis, to endeavour to gain our point. But all was of no avail, as they seemed to think that the minisWi* and soldiers would be a great use to them on the journey. All the day was now spent in walking round their post, and going through their WW form of religion. I applied to some of the chiefs to allow the Rev. Mr. Grace to walk about, which was granted. The late Mr. Volkner's head having been drier! this time, it was placed on the pulpit of the Catholic Church, day and night. I supplied the Europeans with provisions. March 4.—This morning Kereope sent for myself and brother as he was going to the bush, and wished to* say " good bye." He assured us of perfect safety, and told us it was no use our trying to get Grace off, as it was their full intention to take him to Taranaki with them. This evening, about eight o'clock, the great chief Potare came in, with about sixty followers on horseback, and the white prisoner on foot carrying their swag. My brother, Tiwai, and myself, immediately waited on him, and told him of our being tied up, which appeared to vex hirn very considerably. lie ordered a tangi to be performed by the natives, in order to show his regret. He told us what fcad gone on, and said that as they had killed Volkner instead of accepting the ransom, he would call a meeting, and inquire into the whole affair. We remained conversing with him in his bedroom until after ten o'clock. Mr. Grace asked us if he could come over with us, to which we cheerfully consented, receiving permission ftom the chiefs to do so. Mr. Grace slept with us this night, when we told him the conversation we had had with the chief. He asked us, if possible, to get an interview for him, which we promised. During this afternoon my brother, Tiwai, and myself visited poor" Volkner's grave, when we saw a great number of dogs running round the water-closet before mentioned, and on looking at it discovered, to our surprise, poor Volkner's body. We went and asked for permission to bury the body, which was given us, and we intended to bury it the next morning, but we were afterwards told they would bury it themselves. We saw them throw some dirt over it.

Sunday, March s.—According to the desire of the Rev. Mr. Grace I waited on the great chief at six o'clock, and after talking over general matters, asked him to allow the rev. gentleman an interview, in order that he might describe his own case. He attended to this, and said he would inquire into the whole affair. He wished me to in form the Europeans to meet him in committee, at 10 o'clock that morning, in the late Mr. Volkner'i church. The Europeans attended, and were each provided with chairs, when the first inquiry was as to the the late Rev. Mr. Volkner's death, which was not very satisfactory to them. The chief blamed the i natives for hanging him without a trial. They decided to ransom Mr. Grace, on condition that Hori Tupaea and his party, who were in the hands of the Government, were to be returned to them by the return of the schooner Eclipse (no other vessel being allowed to reach the port). Mr. Grace would then be sent to Auckland with a letter to the Government. In the meantime, my brother and I were to remain as bondsmen for Mr. Grace until such time as the vessel should arrive with the party on board. On these conditions they would allow the rev. gentleman to remain at Opotiki, but if my brother refused to remain, Mr. Grace would be sent to Turanga. My brother assented. Potare wished me to bring my wife and family down, and settle amongst them, when he would give me and my brother as much land as we required, as well as cattle to stock it with, which lof course promised. There were about 300 natives present. Another meeting was held privately, after which they gave up possession of the Eclipse, and Potare gave orders that every man and woman in the place should give us a kit of potatoes. In the eveuing another large meeting was held, at which poor Volkner's head was behind the chairman. It was decided at this meeting that the party should leave Opotiki, proper. The English prisoner, John Brown, of the 57th Regiment, spent the evening with us. He told us he had been there 18 months, and made our blood run cold with his narrative of what he had gone through. We arranged with him that should he be there on our return, we would endeavour to find means for his escape. lie told us there were two more captive soldiers travelling with the other party; one of their names was Louis Baker. Monday, March 6.—The party left for Opotiki proper, to hold another meeting, Brown carrying another load. My brother accompanied them at the request of Potare. A war-dance was got up on our arrival, the soldier's and the Rev. Mr. Volkner's heads being stuck on a pole to dance to, some of the natives actually putting the noses of the heads between their teeth. The letter to the Government was written at this meeting and delivered to me. Tuesday, March 7.—Got all ready to leave with the letter, but told not to do so for ten days, in order to wait for the party's return from Turanga, Wednesday, March B.—This morning 1 was astonished to find a half-witted native, dressed in poor Volkner's drawers, boots, and socks. 1 spoke to some of the natives, and they compelled him to take them off. I found he had taken the body out of the water-closet, and taken oft" the clothes. I found out that the body was still unburied. I requested the natives to deliver the body to me ; it was given on condition that Mr. Grace was not to go near during the burial. At first they refused to allow it to be buried near the church, but after more presents they gave nio permission to bury it whore we liked. My crew and myself dug the grave, and exhumed the body, which we covered with carpeting, given to us by Tiwai, and tied it round with flax. We carried it to the last resting-place, burying the clothes with it. We had the grave fenced iu, and my brother placed a head board. It is laid close to the back windows of the church.

Thursday, 9, to Tuesday, 14.—Missing. Wednesday, March 15.—Our time of detention having expired, to the joy of all the natives, we sailed down the river. Wind was foul at the heads, and we dropped an char. Wo put Tiwai back in a small bout, and found all the natives gone some live miles up the river to consecrate a large new polo which they had raised for their new worship. We took a horse and went to the meeting. A bullock was killed and roasted, and they gave us 60lbs of beef to take on board, all the natives being pleased at my brother's intention of staying with them.

Thursday, March 16. —At about half-past six this morning, the native Heremeta (who cut Volkner's head off) came to my bed and told me there was a large steamer coming along the coast close in shore. I mounted a chimney and saw that it was 11.M.5. Eclipse. My brother and myself got into a canoe and paddled down to meet her, delivering the letter given me for the Government to Mr. Rice. I told them what had occurred. The Bishop of New Zealand asked me if there was any hope of getting Mr Grace. I gave them but little hope. They asked me If I thought steamers boats could cut him out. I told them the natives would have Mr. Grace miles up the bush long before the boat could land. His Lordship told me money was no object; but I assured him it was no use offering it, and entertained but little hope of recovering him. I tola him liwai and William King were on shore, and he asked me

to go and bring them off, as I thought itimpmdent to send a ship's boat ashore. I left my ro board, and went ashore with two of liam King and Tiwai were gone. I went se^ but was told by Mr. Grace, who J/ 8 usual walk, that the natives were B one to J ra 2J respecting the arrival of the steamer. On seeing the rev. gentleman so sad, and knowing j allotted to him. 1 made up my mind to r skmy life, as well as those that were wnhneiosave. possible, the rev. gentleman. I sentoell h«njOj would walk down to the P OIU J l dicer of take him in; but, after a thought, I saw the da lger the yard, ran to the . boa *>^\f* ld in Jwharo nearly ran off to the meeting being nua m a .. rMe of .he river. and we did pull, the hemg«. bottom of the boat, b )uu | t j, e tide in our beach with their nt M , rowed our capfavour, we managed to esr.ape, n(> tive to Hie stcamer. l Mar COU W „ot unnprson in the boat but our own i>.» j' „ , ~ &&&&s&£ F-- 1 --S we've astonished to think what I hjristal in bl inking them oil, „ »y Mtamcr w still inside the he* so I stHiulin" at ihe heads, ana a. ouee went and took him and found he had been away to the meeting witli Wm. King at the time I was ashore looking for him. He was there when the news came of Mr. Grace's escape and told me; lat tl]ll " mediately thought he was implicated in the escaj e, and proposed to shoot him, but he quietly slipped awavfrom them into the bush, and reached the spot from which 1 took him. I conveyed him to the schooner, whilst the steamers boatsi were alongside, and found that Herematn. and two others had been on board searching ior Mr. Urate, S not finding him, had taken away the canoe which was alongside, so that the men on board should not Mcane They had no idea of my intention to take the schooner out, and went ashore to collect more forces - but luckily we doubled them, and over the bar with the schooner before there was any appearance of a great force, The men m the boats ad a heavy pull for it, and succeeded in towing the schooner alongside the steamer, where they anchored. Tiwai and myself went on board, and remained there, my brother going on board the schooner. Before 1 went on board, his lordship sent two Maoris, whom e brought, with him from Poverty Bay, to treat with the natives for Mr. Grace, but as ihey did not come back, Tiwai volunteered to go ashore, to see about them, and try to get his wife away at the same tl,ne - Wl » ht came, but there was no sign of his return, or the other natives. About ten o'clock, a cry was issued that Tiwai was swimming oil with a number of natives after him. Captain Fremantle immediately lowered his whale-boat wiih an armed crew. I went with him to the surf, where we remained some time with loaded rifles, but could learn nothing. Iliad not eaten any-

thing for some thirty-six hours,when Messrs. Hawkins and Parker gave me something to eat, and sent the schooner away during the night. Friday, March 17.—The Bishop, very anxious about tbe natives and others ashore, was endeavouring- to gain some tidings about them in the captain's gig. We saw a large number of natives on the shore, and his Lordship, Captain Fremautle, and Mr. Rice determined to have a korero with tl]em. They were absent some hours, and returned with liwai. Every one was glad to welcome him back Afterwards we hauled up the whaleboat and got ready to go, when we perceived some person on the beach waving a union-jack. The captain sent ashore, and two Maoris were brought on board, who proved to be the ambassadors of the previous day. We immediately steamed away for Maketu and Auckland. Tiwai told us the natives had ransacked my stores on finding I had taken Mr. Grace away. We arrived in Auckland 011 Saturday night, having passed H.M. s. Curacoa, to which Captain Fremantle communicated the news. Before leaving with the schooner, I offered all the European inhabitants a free passage to Auckland. _ The following is a copy of a letter presented to me by Dr. Agassiz, aud the European inhabitants of Opotiki, before I left. : — Opotiki, March 5,186<>. To Captain Levy. Dear Sir—Allow me to thank you, in the name of the Europeans at Opotiki, for the generous and prudent manner in which you acted during the late proceedings at this place, and for the manner in which you saved Mr. Grace's life.

Yours, sincerely, A. Agassiz, M.D.

Opotiki, March 6. I, the undersigned, do hereby certify that I was present ■when M. and S. Levy gave up the whole of their stock in their store and vessel to the natives, as a ransom for the live 3 of the Rev. Mr. Yolkner and Mr. Grace. (Signed) A. Agassiz.