THE MURDERS AT PATEA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2338, 20 June 1868, Page 3

THE MURDERS AT PATEA.

The correspondent of tho Wanganui Herald writing from Waihi on Juno 11 says: I have n very sad report to send you on this occasion. On Tuesday last, the 9th of June, three settlers named David Cahill (late Sergeant of No 9 Company, T.M.S.), William Clarke, and Thomas Squires, were brutally murdered by the natives whilst shifting a log into a sawpit. Cahill and Squires were dreadfully mutilated, their heart and lungs being laid bare. The natives of Hatepe first brought in the news,,which was almost immediately confirmed by a native from Mawhitiwhiti. The murderers passed by the latter place after committing the dreadful deed, and told the resident natives there that a man was killed, and told them to make for the bush. The greater part of the natives refused, and went to Hatepe. The murderers were recognised, and were all natives from Ngutuotemanu, and relatives to the prisoner who escaped a short time since from Waihi. LieutenantColonel M'Donald arrived here last night from Wanganui, and it is reported that he intends proceeding to Wellington direct to endeavour to raise a sufficient force to take the murderers. Ngutuotemanu is a long distance in the bush, and only approachable by a narrow foot track. It contains over ninety whares; one large whare is about eighty feet in length, It has been a regular hotbed of Hauhauism for some time pasl, and is within a short distance of Pungarehu, which was destroyed by Lieut.-Colonel M'Donnell last year, and there is but little doubt that it was from Ngutuotemanu that Pungarehu received its reinforcement. The natives of that place have lately been doing all in their power to create disturbances by committing thefts in all directions. Unless the Government immediately take steps to avenge these brutal murders, the settlers are all determined to take the law, into their own hands, and all near the bush are, of course, leaving, and it is most probable that their homesteads will be destroyed. Mr Booth, E.M., is now holding an inquest on the bodies; the evidence is scarcely worth reporting, as it is merely circumstantial.

The following was issued as an extra by the Wanganui Times, on Saturday, June 13 :—ln last. Thursday's issue we reported the murder of one man, Cahill, at Waihi, near Ketemarai. In this morning's issue the names of two more—Clark and Squires—shot down and brutally tomahawked, had to be added.

This morning a trooper arrived in town with the intelligence that another man, Thomas Smith, a trooper, went out about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon to catch his horse. After catching it, and whilst in the act of mounting, a volley was fired by the natives from the adjoining bush, and poor Smith was shot dead. The Maoris then rushed in and tomahawked him, completely severing his lower extremities from the upper part of his body, which they carried away. The lower part of the body was recovered by his comrades. This horrible deed was perpetrated within gunshot of the camp at Waihi. Colonel McDonnell leaves by the s.s. Storm Bird for Wellington to-day. He can do nothing in Patea with the few men under his'command, and tied down as he is by the civil authorities. Let the district at once be proclaimed under martial law, and McDonnell will get any number of volunteers he may require to scour the country, but we warn the Government not to attempt to call out the militia of this district. In an emergency like the present, even men upon crutches would turn out voluntarily, but the word militiaman is detested in these districts. The people wait with anxiety the decision of the Government.