The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 287, 4 December 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1868.

itiE POVERTY BAY MASSACRE. We gleau from the summary published by life ILtvke'e Bay Herald on the 23rd ultimo, the following paiuful but interest- . ing details of the late massacre at Mata- _ where The extraordinary escape of Captain Prison's wife nud'aud bod, a child of 8 years old, raused the greatest rejoicing, in N'lp'cr. Mrs Wilson is now staying at Archdeacon Willinms's house, Taranganui, seeking that repose of which she stands so much in need ; am!, though terribly shattered, hopes fire entertained of her recovery, though she is not yet iv a fit state to be removed to Nnipier. It seems that the murderers dashed out her baby's brains againa the floor, and after the head had become a pulpy mass, placed it in her arms, before attacking the mother. Captain Wilson fought bravely for. his family, but Buccumbed to overpowering odds. The principal wounds which* the unhappy lady received are two in the arm, one of which pinned her to the ground; another nearer the wrist transfixed her and her baby, ! which lay dead beneath her. Sensible even then, and hearing the dying moans of her husband, she turned toward him, and-im-mediately received auother bayonet stab in the abdomen: this wound probably saved her life. The murderers left her,-supposing her to be dead; but even then before departing they beat her on the breast with the but-end of their rifles, of which she retains the marks. The little boy, the only one of her children who es wandered ! about for for three days after his escape, searching for his mother, whom, though a mere child, he discovered and supported, finally procuring her removal by conveying a card upon which*she contrived to write a few words to Captain Wcsirupp at the redoubt — a remarkable feat for such a tiny little fellow to accomplish, considering he liad to traverse a distance of six miles upon an open road continually scoured by the enemy. -When it is remembered that Mrs Wilson and her child lay hidden for seven days (the former terribly wounded), .that they were all that time surrounded by. murdeVers, and were forced to move from one miserable refuge to another; that they were, at one time hiding in a house to which the Hauhaus occasionally came; we | may partially conceive, but not wholly . realise, the agouies endured by the unhappy ludy. The body of Mr Cadle was found where he fell, iv front of his store, shot through . the back. His retriever dog was alive beside him; the faithful creature had . guarded the body of his much-loved master, I ' arid hud for B'aveh days preserved; it from the, mutilation to which, the other bodies ! -vist? unhappily exposed. •

1 ' : A party was despatched on the 18th -to Matawhero to collect and inter the bodies of the victim?, of which 24 were discovered. Major and Mrs Biggs were buried together; Mrs Farrell alone; Capt. Wilson, 3 children, and. man-servaut (Morauj in one grave (the children bad teen decapitated), nod Maria Goldsmith (also decapitated) buried where they fell; Mr Maun and wife near their home (child not found); Mr Cadlti close to the.remaius of bis store; Mr Walsh, wife, child, and partner (Mr Padbury) together (child found with head cut off). At Mr Newuham's no bodies j were found, but a newly-maiie grave was discovered. It is probable Newnbam, his \ wife, aud their adopted child are buried ia it. AH the murdered Kawanatatrga uatives appear to have been buried by frieuilly or other natives. A riog or two, a brooch, ■aud a few other articles have been obtaiued from the sad remains,- as mementos for 'transmission to friends of the departed. The late report that Tito ICowaru had crossed the Wanganui river to.llangitikei, which caused such consternation ia Wellington, has not been .confirmed. The opiuiou of the Natives is that a portion, of his followers have crossed the river. JSTo one kuows -where Tito Kowaru is for certain. He is reported to be in several places. Recent letters from Wangaaui | state that Colonel Whitmore's impression was, that Tito had gone to Patea to build a pa there. A leading article in the Wellington Advertiser, the Government organ, has created much interest. It states that the Wnikato is likely to be the third centre of immediate rebellion, and strongly hints that the first class Wellington militia will be sent to the country, so as to relieve the Constabulary and other forces from the present defence of settled districts ; also that Tito is exciting the uatives to a general rising all over the island. The Auckland papers however speak as eheeriugly as possible on the subject, though the Resident Magistrate at Hamilton, Mr Searaucke, telegraphs immense excitement amongst king Natives beyond aukati (king's boundary line), in consequence of the present state of affairs, but a strong party d.ep^ecate any disturbance at Waikato. Mr Mackay has held a meeting of Natives at Tauranga, who professed unabated loyalty, but neither at Tauranga nor,Opoiiki had they previous to his visit heard of the Poverty Bay disasters. Dv Pollen, the Government Agent in Auckland, has written to the Southern Cross a long letter, vindicating the Government in the Poverty Bay affair. Ha says:— lt is a fact that Mr Richmond personaily warned Major Biggs of danger, and that some days before the attack was made, Major Muir, Resident Magistrate at Opotiki, sent an express from that place to warn the officer in command of. what was intended. The Hawke's Bay Herald of the 23rd ultimo says that Te Kooti has forwarded to a young man named Robert Goldsmith, who is a Sue young fellow aud a halfcaste, a watch said to belong to Mrs Danvers, of •the Chatham Isles, together witli^a sword and shawl. The fohowiug is the history of this transaction: — When the massacre occurred at Matavyhero, Goldsmith was iv Napier, where he had gone to pass the medical boar! , preparatory to receiviug a pehsiou for a severe wound received iv Westrupp's fight with the ex-prisouers. Upon hearing the sad news of the murder of his relatives lie hastened back, as he expressed it, i to have another shot at Te Kooti.' Upon his arrival he found that his wife had fallen into the hands of Te Kooti «nd his mob. - By m^ans. of jthe natives he contrived to open negotiations for the restoration of his wife; and the aboYo articles were sent as.reply and payment for her tosj». The watch was iden-

! tlfied by a native who was deported to the Chathams, and who is Here ; a Jocket is attached, containing a- miniature portrait of a lady and a tress of hair; these are also a chain, seal, &c. It appears that there was a considerable panic at Wanganui on the night of the 20th ult. The iiriog of two'guusis uaderstood to be the preconcerted signal for rousing the towu on the approach of danger. The Sturt and John Perm happened io arrive almost at the same time, and each fired an arrival gun, which caused uo slight consternation. The ' people at Napier also experienced a similar alarm on the night of the 21st, when at 10 o'clock, Constable Groom rode into Napier reporting that 400 to 500 Rau- . liaus were coming into Napier. He was sure of it, because he had -seen them himself. The militia, &c, turned out famously; the soldiers of the 18th regiment left the barracks and took up a commanding position. Aftei; a short but painful suspense, it turned out to be a settler and some 30 to 40 frieudly Natives on their way to towu. The alarm has giveu confidence in the readiness, of the forces to turn oafc.