A SUPPOSED MURDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 38

A SUPPOSED MURDER.

A MAORI CHIEF KILLED. GISBORNE, November 24. News has just been received that a murder has been committed at Kawakawa, beyond the East Cape. It is stated that" a number of Natives were carousing last night, and this morning one of their number was discovered lying dead a little distance away from the pa, with his head all ".broken to pieces."' His name was Tetara Hbukamau, and he was one of the principal men of the district. The Natives state that they remember nothing of what happened. November 25. Constable Smith, of Port Awa-nui, received the following message from T. W. Lyddle, storekeeper at Kawakawa: — "A Maori man was found on the beach , above high water m,ark, his face covered 1 - with blood, and with blood on the stones under his head. He was lying on his face," and those that found him turned him over. I suppose there should be an inquest, and think you had "better" come up at once." Kawakawa is 30 miles from Port Awanui, the nearest police station, and the road is only traversable by daylight. Constable Smith and Natiye Constable Gerrard left at an early, hour in the morning for the scene of the tragedy, where they expected to arrive at 10 a.m. Detective Henderson also left Gisborne early this morning, "having a three days' ride in front of him. At first it was thought that the Native's death might have been the -result of an accident, probably through his falling from a horse, 'but that theory is discounted by the fact that the distance between the publichouse where the carouse is alleged to have been held and the Native pa was only about 200 yards, and the Natives were travelling on foot. According to the Native messenger, Houkamau was found with his skull fractured over the eye. The deceased Native, Tetara Houkamau, was one of the loading chiefs of the Ngatiporou tribe. Either he or his brother received the mantle of the tribe as successor to the late Major Ropata. His death caused a great sensation amongst the Natives of the East Coast. November 26Later news from Kawakawa .states that the body of Houkamau was much knocked about. There was a dent and a bruise over the left eye, and a slight cut over the left eyebrow. Various other parts of the body were broken, bruised, and bleeding profusely, and there were numerous smaller bruises. Much blood has come from the nose, and the mouth and face were disfigured. An inquest will be held to-day.