THE TARANAKI TRAGEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10362, 17 May 1895, Page 2

THE TARANAKI TRAGEDY.

-(Per United Press -Association,) - . '-..... . . New Plymouth, 'aiay 16. Farther particulars of'the tragedy ac M«ib.oetahi state that Pene, who'billed his: wife and daughter and then committed suicide, was in appearance like a !half-ca G te,' having a red beard. He had the repntation ofbeipi a quiet, a&rd-working man. When, the Maori ,settlemenfc. was Waited Pene was found lying on his back, and a double-barrelled gun lying between his legs.with the muzzle pointful? to deoea-ed's Sf■ l, v f Sfa°mu imSelf thi'o«Shthe breast and fallen back. The body of the'girl TeAta (hisi daughter) was found lying in a small fenced garden She had been'shoS afc the back of the head, the^ charge coming through the child's month.. The wife of Peue, who was named i are, was found in a little whare half smile tfom. whera the others were lyiog. She was covered with clean white blankets; The Woman was dressed, with the exception of her stockings and boots. The,back part of her sfcuii was .smashed in. and her head was resting on her left arm. Under a mat on which the murdered women, was reolimog was a large axe covered wifcti blood. ■-';■■.■ - # R-imeka, an old Maori, states that at--12 o clock on Wednesday hs heard the' report of. a gun clo3s to ft potato pit. which he w«a iv He got put found that Pene had just shot the hpulegirl. Rsmeka tried to get she qua from him, bat proved not strong, enough, and Pene ! ran .out- of 'sight. He afterwards- heard another; shot. Other. Maoris who wore in the nsld ploughing went and found Peae dead The Maoris ,say that Peoe and his. wife had been-.in bad health for some time, aad were very ,d«Bpondent, ' ..... ,; , . An inquest was held to-day on the bodies of the victims m ,the Mahoetahi Native tragedy | A verdict was returned "That the deceased i murdered his wife and daughter, and. then com- I niitted suicide by Ehooting himself." I