IMPORTANT AND LATER NEWS FROM PATEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1434, 22 June 1868, Page 4

IMPORTANT AND LATER NEWS FROM PATEA.

MURDER OF FOUR EUROPEANS AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. PUBLIC MEETING- OP SETTLERS. (FROM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Patea, June 9. I have just time to send you these few lines to inform you that the natives inland of Eetcmarae have re-commenced hostilities in this district, and deeply regret to add that they have shown their colours in the usual manner, initiating their proceedings with a brutal murder. The full particulars are not yet known ; what has reached us is as follows : The Resident Magistrate proceeded this morn- I ing in company with Sub-Inspector Ross, to a i village some sis miles inland, of Kctemarae. This visit was by invitation, and its object to discuss matters relating to the late robberies in the district. After staying with the natives a short time, Mr. Booth (Resident Magistrate), returned to Waihi, where the Constabulary are stationed, and from thence came into Patea. Before reaching his destination, howover, he was overtaken by a trooper with tho melancholy intelligence that the natives had come down to the Ketemarao clearing and brutally murdered Sergeant Cnhill, late No. 0 Company Taranaki Military Settlers, who had settled in the locality, and who was one of the principal victims in the late robberies. The portion of the Armed Constabulary stationed at Patea, leavo for Waihi to-night. It is to be hoped that Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell will be enabled to inflict summary chastisement beforo 'the flamo of rebellion spreads further. June 11. Some further particulars have reached us respecting the murders at Ivetcmarae, which I hasten to send you. IN ews reached Waihi on the afternoon of the 9th instant, that Sergeant Cahill had been killed by the natives whilst working on his land, and a party of Constabulary immediately went out. On arriving at tho whare occupied by the deceased they found that the contents had been rifled, and proceeding a little further came upon a horrible sight. 4 . It appears that Sergeant Cahill and two men named Clark and {Squire had been sawing on that afternoon, and the bodies of all three were found close to the saw-pit. They were fearfully mutilated and tomahawked, the heart of one man having been taken out. The bodies were brought into Waihi for interment. Lieut.-Colonel McDonald (who was on leave at Wanganui) arrived at Patea last night, and proceeded to Waihi. It is feared, however, that he will be unable to do anything, the force under his command not being sufficient to undertake any measure to punish the natives. I am glad to be able to add that this rising appears to be confined to the natives north of Waihi. letters having been received by Mr. Booth, R.M., assuring him of the sympathy and assistance of the leading chiefs and their tribes from Pokaikai to Waitotara. The tragedy which has been enacted will, nevertheless, prove a severe blow to the advancement of this promising district, but it is to be hoped that the Government will come forward and do everything in their power to restore confidence. June 13.

On Monday last, the Bth instant, was struck the first blow by a section of theNgaruahine tribe, living to the northward and westward of Waihi, announcing the commencement of hostilities by these savages. For some months past great uneasiness has been felt by the settlers in th . Uhbourhood of Waihi, owing to the repented aggression of the natives, but however unsafe where propertj' was concerned, it was not generally considered that life itself was in jeopardy. I deeply regret to have to inform you that four valuablo lives have been sacrificed, and that such a terrible check to the progress of, perhaps, the finest agricultural and pastoral district in New Zealand, has taken place. The account of the expedition undertaken by Mr. Booth, R.M., and Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell, has already appeared in your columns. What follows must be looked upon as tho disastrous finalo of what wo had fondly hoped was a decided success. For some days after the return of the Armed Constabulary and Militia from the native village of Te Ngutu o te Manu, all went well, most if not all the stolen property was restored, and on Monday last Mr. Booth, accompanied by SubInspector Ross, A..C, proceeded to meet the natives, by invitation, at a village in the bush, some six miles from Waihi and near what is called General Chute's road.

From the general bearing of the natives and the absence of women and children, Mr. Booth, who is experienced in native matters, did not consider it wise to remain in the pa, and from after occurrences, it turned, out most tortunate that he saw how the "land lay" aud hurried his departure, thereby undoubtedly saving his life. Only a few hours after Mr. Uooth had left, the natives surprised three men who were employed sawing timber in a clearing near Wailii and murdered them in a most brutal manner. Men were sent out from the redoubt as soon as the sad intelligence was known; and the bodies were recovered dreadfully mutilated by these inhuman savages. The names of the unfortunate men are Sergeant Cahill, late No. 9 company Taranaki Military Settlers, Squires, and Clark. On the evening of the 9th instant, LieutenantColonel McDonnell arrived at Patea and proceeded at once to Waihi. He, however, considered his force insufficient to do anything in the matter, and returned to "Waihi on the morning of the 11th en route to Wellington to consult with the Government. On Friday last (12th), another man was murdered, this time in sight of the Redoubt at Waihi. The poor fellow, a trooper named Smith, was out looking for his horse, which had strayed towards the bush. The natives appa- J rently watching their chance, suddenly rushed out and tomahawked him. It is said that the gleam of the tomahawks was seen through a pair of glasses from the lledoubt. Men were sent out at once, but were too lato to render any assistance. The wretches had carried off the body of their victim, leaving only tho legs. A. great gloom lias fallen over the whole district at these terrible occurrences. As soon as the news was communicated to the natives a meeting was held, and the native chiefs have issued a notice to the settlers, guaranteeing their safety between Matengarara and Waitotara, and protesting that they aro in no manner implicated in the murders committed by the natives under Tito Blowarro. It would, therefore, aprear that this outbreak is entirely confined to the natives on tho northern boundary of the military settlements —to those natives, in fact, who remain in undisputed possession of their lands, whilst en the other hand those whose land we have confiscated and now occupy, guarantee our safety .' It was undoubtedly the policy of Government when they had a strong force at Waihi and Waingongoro, when they had a large staff of surveyors on the spot, and when the Punarehu affair, in which the natives suffered so severely, was fresh on their minds.to occupy and survey the confiscated lands north of the Waingongoro River. Had that been done promptly and effectually, and the land put into the market, I doubt whether Tito .Kowarro and his bloodthirsty crew would ever have figured in these pages. I have no doubt that the idea in the native mind was, and is now, that wo fear to dispossess them of the land. This in turn has given them confidence to act/ on the offensive, and. Mno illcs lachrymal.

June 15. A notice lias been issued to the settlers by the Resident Magistrate, advising all persons in the district, living near the bush, to come into the opc n country, as the friendly natives think it possible that the Hauhaus, in their desire to implicate the whole of the Maoris in thcse_ part, may send parties down to murder settlers in isolated places, and thereby cause the outbreak to be looked upon as general by tho Government- . Another outrage was committed yesterday morning, ldth, at daybreak. The redoubt at the mouth of the Waingongoro river, where a small party ofconstabulary have been stationed, was lately abandoned, and the people living there had, 1 believe, taken shelter at Waihi. Early on Sunday morning fires were observed from Waihi in the direction of Waingongoro, and it was found that tho Hauhaus had been busy in the work of destruction. A man named Smith, who had a public-house there, has lost his all; they not only burnt the house to tho ground, but slaughtered all cattle, pigs, &e., whilst sundry feathers scattered about showed that they had breakfasted on poultry. In the meanwhile we sit. idly by wondering what will come next, pending the return of Lieut-Colonel McDonnell, from Wellington. I send you a copy of the resolutions carried at a public meeting on Saturday last. At a public meeting hold this (13th) day of .Tunt> 18.18, at, Mr. Summers' Hotel, Mr. Holland in th chair, tho following resolutions were unanimously carried: —l. That this meeting deeply deplore the events which havo occurred 171 this district during tho past week, and are of opinion that the time hng arrived when a large and ofliciont field force should be riluced at tho solo disponal of Liout.-Colonel McDonnell, in whom the meeting has implicit confidence, or such other officer as tho Government may appoint, to ennblc him to successfully cope with tha difficulty which ha* arisen, and to prevent its further spread. 2. That J. Booth, Koq., K.M., should be requested to tike ruch steps for tho protectiou of tho Camp Patea, and its immediate vicinity, cither by retaininn; tho militia at pie.ient on pay, or such other means as ho mny 300 fit. 3. That That tho Chairman be requested to forward copies of tho foregoing rosulutio;:;! to James Booth, Esq., Tt.M., with a request that ho will forward the same to Wellington .13 ec,rly at po-fibla. 4. That nniser existing ciicumstances a list should bo opened of all who ate willing to offer thoir services gratuitously for cump service tha sumo la be forwarded to Mr. Booth, K.M., or to the proper authority, pending tho return of Colonel McDonnell.