THE NATIVE MURDER AT TUHUA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1184, 29 November 1880, Page 2

THE NATIVE MURDER AT TUHUA.

Referring to the alleged shooting of a white man named Moffatt by the natives at Tuhua, the Wangnui "Herald" states that as the intelligence was brought down by a native who stated that he was present when the deed was done, credence has been given to the story. Moffatt, it will be remembered, was tried about three years ago in Wanganui on a charge, of making powder for the natives, aud sentenced to a term of imprisonment. On his release he was lost sight of for a time, and then appeared, apparently in flourishing circumstances, preferring a claim to a large slice of the lavd 1 in aiid'about ton". The excitement lasted for a short | time anfl then died out, and no more |,wa?U heard Of M&ffatfc in a j>ubli<;, way AidJiil his tragic end again m'&cie him a subject fdr. p.pjWf>rsation.. ii ' ;; Thle WLertdd gathers its ififdrinatiqh^ fronF Henare, , who accompanied Moffat I rd'm "Awapuni 'io , the sceii.e of his death. Te Kere,the prophet of Aivapnni, being desirous of promulgating his views among the natives of the Upper Wanganui, despatched Henare, one of his disciples, on a preaching tour. Henare proceeded toTaupb; and from there to the Tuhua, stopping at a large settlement placed at the junction of- the Origaruhue and the Wanganui. At this place Ngatai, thq chief of • the hapu there, and ; who :is, ; ■ next to Topine, the most influential chief iti that district, threatened to kill Moffatt for trespassing upon land that had never been trodden ,by pakehas. Henare. ' pleaded;, for Moffatt's life; and placid/ himself in front of his companion, telling the natives, numbers of whom had assembled with arms, that if .they desired to Bhopt Moffatt they must., first shoot him (Henare); The inforniation is not very exact on the question as to whether xVloffatt was ordered to return or. not, or. I whether he refused, but Henare states that he-was pushed on one side, and [ two natires fired at Moffatt, killing him. was then allowed to leave, his 'preaching tour; being brought; :to. r an j' abrupt conclusion. . The : — " We- learn that Mof/att originaUy made -powder-; for .the tribe f tha,t live" ?£ the settlement mentioned,, and that Bis ostensible reason for visiting the country again was to obtain ' possession of some personal .effects that he left behind when apprehended foe jpowder making. Whether 7 place as to the o.w ; rierßhip_.of the^^ arfifeles in question we, know' : not.} 'It is ."^ppptilaSlyi ' supposed that gold exists'in "payable qQantities in the Tuhua country, arid possibly Moffatt, justing" to his former acquaintance- with hhii natives, intended prospecting. The -.natives for many yeai-aJpasfc have always steadfastly refused permission to Europeans to enter' their country, and we should think hardly any portion of tne island is less known than" the Tuhua. Moffatt must have been well aware of the temper of the natives, bat in company with a preacher for a new- prophet, probably anticipated no danger. The settlement is about 130 miles from Wanganui."