Enter-Probincial News.

Colonist, Issue 31, 5 February 1858, Page 2

Enter-Probincial News.

NEW PLYMOUTH.

(Fr.dm the]Taranqki News, January 14i) „■ • On Saturday evening, the inhabitants of .the town were startled by the report that fresh disturbances had broken out among the natives in the Bell and Hua district, and that two of them had been killed. Further inquiry proved the report to be correct to the extent of the number slain; but the par-' ticulars disclosed—not a fight, but as craftily designed, and determined plan of assassination as could well be conceived. The victims were Katatore— whose career for the last four years has occasioned so much disturbance to the settlement, and trouble to the Government—and Rawiri, his halfbrother, said to be an hioftensive man; but, we have heard, concerned with Katatore in the murder of his namesake three years ago. The assassins were Tamati, brother to Ihaia of the Hikamona pa, and half-a-dozen or so of his people. Ihaia is also known to have been personally aiding in training the victims of this atrocity to the ambuscade prepared for their destruction.. -.- As explaining the causes which may have in part led to this massacre, we must refer to previous occurrences. Since the destruction of Rawiri and his followers, three years since, Katatore has not untillatclyventurcdfromhispaintotown,aiKlnever, we have heard, untilthis last occasion, without arms and armed followers. Ihaia and Tamati had nothing to do on either side in the affair of Rawiri's slaughter, and did not show any interest in the matter. The true aim of the"actors in this, as in Rawiri's tragedy, is doubtless a determination to get rid of favoured and powerful opponents, whose position, circumscribed their influence in the land dealings of the province, for which end ev^ery new atrocity is made to furnish ; additional excuses. Beyond this inducement, there already existed another cause of hatred between the two. chiefs, namely, that Katatore was instrumental in bringing up the Ngataruanui to avenge the death of one of their tribe killed by Ihaia, or by his direction, in a fit of jealousy; in which struggle he lost some of his people, and his brother Tamati was very severiy wounded: after which time, Ihaia joined his strength with Adam Clark's, and inflicted upon them great loss, and ultimately drove them back south. From that time, Ihaia has sworn the destruction of Katatore the first opportunity, and, from what has transpired, must have been long watching his opportunity, although conducting himself so as to lull suspicion. On Saturday last, both chiefs were in town with several of their men, and all doubt of each other's intentions appeared at an end. Ihaia laid himself out during the day to propitiate his enemies, and dispel any shade of suspicion by treating them with food and spirits; so that when they left town, some of them were the worse for drink, and returned, dogged, it should appear, by Ihaia, in scattered parties along the road. '. ■ ■ . Near the end of the Bell Block, at the turn from the Devon line which leads. to Katatore's pa, behind a furze hedge on the land of Mr. Street, a party of Ihaia's people, 6 or 7 in number, remained from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until shortly after six, when Katatore, Rawiri, Tamian, and a boy, all mounted, arrived at the turning. A shot was fired, which struck Rawiri in the chest, and tumbled him from his horse, upon which, Katatore dismounted to his assistance, but, finding him dying, made his way down the road, rapidly leading his horse. Tamian, at the first shot, leaped his horse over a fence into a cornfield, and being thrown, made his escape through the standing crops. The boy galloped down: the road and also escaped. Meanwhile, Tamati, who was waiting concealed at another spot, where they might have passed, came up and despatched Rawiri with his tomahawk, with every refinement of savage ingenuity; and while this occurred, the rest of the party gave chase to Katatore, and he was struck by two shots, one in his hip, another in the chest, when he fell, and was despatched. .

The whole affair occupied but a short time, and the bodies were left on the public highway by the assassins. -•' :

Total Abstinence and Band of Hope Pi6nic—The .Total, Abstinence :and Band of Hope Societies held a grand festival at the Waiwakaiho, which was attended by more than two hundred of the members, and a large number of others favouiable to the Total Abstinence demonstration. After the company had partaken of the refreshments provided, the juvenile portion of the company proceeded to amuse themselves by a variety of games and out-door sports, which were con 7 tinued for some time. The company then gathered together, and Mr. Groube, Mr. Whiteley, Mr. Ironside, Mr.. Long, Dr. Nield, and Mr. Flight having addressed the meeting on the objects of the two societies, the company departed. Attempted Suicide.—A determined attempt at self-destruction was made lately, at the Military Hospital, by Fleming, a private belonging to the Artillery force stationed, here, by cutting his throat. The wound inflicted is of a very serious character, and although he is still alive, his condition is considered all but desperate.