SCENE OF THE MURDER. HOT PURSUIT BY THE NATIVES. MAJOR ROPATA'S NGATIPOROU. RIFLES ON THE TRACK.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 324, 12 December 1888, Page 4

SCENE OF THE MURDER. HOT PURSUIT BY THE NATIVES. MAJOR ROPATA'S NGATIPOROU. RIFLES ON THE TRACK.

With' the "view of ''obtaining 'Bojnpknfoj:- 1 \ tnabipn' - as ,- to' the .scentf ' ' of the .murder, , and ''the: relations 1 ,dxlsled" between j, Mr -and 'Mrs' 'Pools '>W " the "natives' of 'that locdliCyVa' 'SrJLrf vopve-'

¥ohttiblve' "obtained an intorviow wifclf Mi\ Scotb, who was .for many .years a resident of the Wests frbast: ' • *•' '! • '■ ,Mr. Scott held tho position of Government Medical Oilicer "amongst tho Ngacipoi*ou natives, and is, intimately acquaiulcd with the 'country' they inhabit. Hc'wns* dreadfully shocked on heaving of tho tragedy, as> ho had an intimate acquaintance with the Pooks, haying stayed at thoir house and attended them 'in his capacity of medical oilicer on several occasions. Pook's stoic and residence, said Mr. Scott, are attached, and aye situated at the I Mataahu settlement, immediately on tho I beach, and in c'oso proximity to Almaku or Open Bay, ton mile 1 :: north" of Tokamaru. Thestorcandoutbuildings stand atbhe footof of a wooded range, sloping down to a plateau of 70 or 80 yards in extent. The distance irom the store to the neaiest station is about a mile, tho nearest station being that owned by Mr J. N. Williams and managed by Mr Wallis. This stat ion extends for miles along the coast line. The native school, of "which Mr Hamilton is the teacher, is situated within a hundred yards of Pook's place, and it is attended by native children only. There is also a disused store contiguous to the scene of the tragedy. Tho native sottlement, is near Wallis, on tho Vv aipiro Block. Mr J'ook was very popular with the natives, and used to give them cath for their cheques when thoy could not obtain it olsewheio. Mrs Pook was generally liked by both natives and Europeans. I She was a most interesting, engaging, and nice womon. They had a very nicely furnished- house, and it was situated in a most picturesque spot. The stove nnd residence occupied by Mr and Mrs Pook belongs to Major Porter, and wns only rented by Pook. Major Porter lias an ofHce thsre for the transaction of native business. \Y aipiro is about two or three miles distant from Pook's place by way of the beach. Pook traded with the natives for maize general produce, fungus, etc., and they took from him a large quantity of vice, etc. Pook was tho favourite storekeeper on the coast. The 'Ngatiporou tribe includes many vuffians; f and there is scarcely a year passes but there is a murder amongst them. If a couple of Ngatiporous have a row, they don't use their lists like other natives, butt are disposed to shoot or tomahawk each other. They are a truculent lot, and yet they proved extremely useful to the C4overnment at the time of the war. They are capital fighting men, and when they joined the Government under Major Ropata they formed a very valuable contingent. Ropata is the great chief of that coast, and Iha\eno doubt that he will assist in hunting the murderer down, Ropita has a body guai'd of riflemen armed with breach loaders, and will scour the country without delay. He was very friendly with the Pooks, who were very hospitable people, and sometimes remained at their place over night. If Eopata's followers come up with tho murderer they will most likely shoot him down. The chances of escape for a fellow of that kind are considerable. He would take to the bush. Sometime ago a murderer got into the bush and the natives were searching for months before they found him. He hid himself in dense manuka, and had so arranged it that he was able to go along on the tops of the Manuka for some distance inland. How did he support himself ? He could support himself by killing pigs, and in summer time there's plenty of food available. You think a native could support himself in the buoh for a long while ? Yes. During the summer months he could do so without any trouble, even if he had not firearms, and a man who committed a deed of this description would probably take firearms into the bush with him. Do you think that the murderer was assisted by anyone 'i Ido not. lam confident that the murderer was isolated, because tho natives as a whole were well disposed towards the Europeaus. Then you suppose that he is ju&t a ruffian or scoundrel amongst the tribe, and that ; the murder has no political significance 'i Oh, no political significance whatever. And you think Hopata's men will be on his track at once ? Iha\enot the slightest doubt that the Kgatiporou Rifles will be on the search as soon as Ropata hears of the murder. On the occasion of the last murder— when the Rev. Mohi Turau's son murdered his own wife — he was hunted down by the kgatiporou Kiflcs. When they found him he committed suicide by blowing his brains out. J think the RiUes are even now in hot pursuit. Arc there any constabulary stationed there ? Yes,thereareSergeantVilliers and a halfcaste constable stationed at Awanui, about twenty miles away. And you think they vvill ha\e the immediate assistance of the natives and the l'ifles especially '! Yes, 1 am confident of that. I see it ha 3 been stated that Mls Pook lived in fear of being murdered by natives V Yes : she was always afraid of the natives, and could never get over a fear that they would do her some injury. There are ! often panics amongst the people along the coast, and rows amongst the natives, and Mrs Pook wa9 apprehensive of some outrage. Did Mr Pook have a similar fear of the natives ? Ido not think so. He was a smart little fellow, and I have no doubt that he was set upon and killed before he knew what his j assailant was about. Did he not keep himself armed in any way ? 1 really cannot tell you whether he was armed or not. Then you think the murderer must have been some drunken fellow '! Yes, I think so. The ISTgatiporou are terribly violent when drunk, and I believe that it would only be under the influence ot liquor that one of them would perpetrate such a horrible outrage.