MR. G. PATTERSON BARBAROUSLY KTLLED BY THE SOUTHERN NATIVES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XII, Issue 605, 5 March 1864, Page 2

MR. G. PATTERSON BARBAROUSLY KTLLED BY THE SOUTHERN NATIVES.

A portion of what follows appeared in n Second Edition on Monday lnst. It is our jmost painful, 1 duty to record the death of an old and most respected settler who has been killed and barbarously mutilated by the natives with their usual atrocity. Qreat anxiety was caused in town yesterday by the report that five settlers had been shot at by the Maoris, and that Ms. G. Patterson was missing. .-.'lt 'seems that they had beon going along the JFrankley road about 10 o'clock on Sunday morning to look for some strayed horses or cattle, and. Mr. Patterson being on horseback was.2oo or-30fli yardsahead. • When the other four got to a rise in the road just by where Mr. Dingle's house stood, they saw Mr. Patterson raise his hand to them as a signal, and immediately turn his horsa and canter back, and at the same time they .saw several Maoris beyond coming towards thorn r ' As they had only ono gun among them, and had not seen nny Maoris very near, they also turned and ran towards town, And it was well they did, or their lives must have been sacrificed too, for they had already approached within 60 or CO yards of an ambush which was lying on a little bank overlooking the road. They had run but a fow yards when they heard a volley and a fiendish yell close behind them, and looking round could see nothing of Mr. Patterson, but instead some natives following them closely, and one of them (C. Hurlstono, who having'been ill lately was weak and' could not run well) would certainly have been killed if it had not been for the coolness and courage of William Bishop, who by the use of his rifle kej>t thorn x>if and enabled the party to reach town safely. Whon tho news reached town Colonel Wane having waited to collect a force, sent out parties in different directions^ consisting of tho '57th, the Bushrangers, and volunteers for the occasion. But the first to arrive on the spot was a small -party of settlors 10 in number,4 of whom had been looking for cattle near Merton. They had their rifles, with thorn, and hearing the firing, and well knowing what it meant, with most commendable courage they instantly sot ott" in tho direction they heard it in, so as to give help if possible. At Mr. Tatton's' place they foil in with six others coming from town and together wont on to tho scene of the tragedy. They found Mr. Patterson's body lying 'on some logs beside the road ; it presented a terrible spectacle • Ho had received throe bullet wounds — ono through the heart, and had been afterwards frightfully mutilated about tho faco with the tomahawk, so that those who had known him well could hardly recognise him. His hat and boots were taken from him, and hie revolver, which of course he had no chanco of using. His horse, which was lying a liltlo distance off, was shot in three or four places and tomahawked as well. Of the various parties sent out one consisting of the 57th and No. 1 Bushrangers went up tho Frankloy read ; and another up the Hurford road, under Major Butler'; and a third, consisting of about 35 mon of No. 2 Bushrangers undor Captain Atkinson, up Burton's road. "When the advanced guard of the latter party reached tho top of Burton's hill they saw four or five Maoris going up the hill on which the chapel stands. Captain Atkinson sent a party to follow these, and took the rest straight over the bush covered ridgo into Colesby's clearing to cut them off. Whon the loading file got out into the clearing thoy saw 50 or CO natives below just turning the cornor to enter the bush about 300 yards off. They waited for a fow more men to como up aud then fired, hitting one, traces of whoso blood wero loft along the track. The natives fired ono or perhaps two shots and then ran, throwing away kits and mats, so that nothing more was seen of them, though their foack, which was very devious, was followed to tho Hurford road, where it camo out somo way above Moylo'a cleoring. They arc brave enough over defenceless mon whon they get thorn in their power, but dare not face half their number of armed men whon their assailants must cross a clearing to got at them: W 4 &hopo tho time is not far distant whon -this handful ; of cowardly butchers who for a long tiino havo boon living within three milos of our outpost will be cleared out of Kaitake, and tho same may be said of Manutahi andJkfatai. tavtf* Wo have no wish to advise what is imprq^it, but if we havo not men enough here we sincerely trust General Cameron will bo able to spare us tho requisite number before very long. Mr. Patterson's untimely death will be deeply felt by all the people of Taranaki. f Ho was woll known and respected by all, being thoroughly upright, aud for energy, perseverance, and industry lfa(l not perhaps his equal in tho place. Ho leaves a widow and a large family of -young children, <