THE MUTILATED BODIES OF PARTIES OF FRIENDLY SCOUTS FOUND.

Colonist, Issue 1165, 4 December 1868, Page 6

THE MUTILATED BODIES OF PARTIES OF FRIENDLY SCOUTS FOUND.

It would seem from the following, which we take from the letter of the 'Wairoa correspondent of the Howie's Bay Herald of the 10th November, that some warning of the intended attack upon the East Coast settlements had been received :—

" A careful search was rewarded by the discovery of the bodies of the scouting parties, all fearfully and brutally misused. Poor Karaitiana had been tomahawked, and his heart and liver torn out and probably eaten ; lie was split open as a butcher opens a sheep. All tho bodies were stripped save Ahita's.

"Kurailiana's death had been carefully plotted and systematically brought about. He met at first (so suy3 the native story) with friendly welcome and entertainment, and was attacked by Rchana, in the whare when they were sleeping. All four were killed with the tomahawk, their heads presenting a horrible appearance. In hunting about in the plantations they captured an old couple ; the woman being tho mother of Te Want's wife, and the man a miserable old cripple, whose wretched existence might have been fairly allowed to expend itself in peace. Not so, however; his dog's luck brought him a dog's end; the Europeans very properly protesting against so unnecessary a crime, but unavailingly; our n,Hie3 dragged the old fellow away and shot him to app '; >n the manes of their friends. Poor sacrifice and pitiab! ■ war! The woman's name is Marara Hinokino. Her story is that Te Waru's people vith Te Kooti's, intend attacking Turanga, Wairoa, and Napier in succession."