MASSACRE AT THE WHITE CLIFFS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 865, 20 February 1869, Page 3

MASSACRE AT THE WHITE CLIFFS.

■» • LIEUT. GASCOrNE, WIFE, FAMILY, AND TWO SETTLERS KILLED. REV. MR. WHITELEY SHOT. So sudden and startling was the news brought into town by Mr. W. Webster on Monday last, and so appalling was the intelligence of the murder of the Rev. Jolin Whiteleyand those residing at Pukearuhe, that business ■ since then has been entirely suspended. Just as the s.s. ' Wellington' wa9 on the point of takin°her departure for the Mannkau at about 4 p.m. on Monday last the news arrived ; and no time was lost in signalling from the flag-staff for her to stop. Mr. W. D. Webster was the bearer of two letters one for Mr. Parris, and one for Major Stapp, which bad been sent by Mr. Good at Urenni, in which he informed them that some natives had massacred the whole of the settlers at the Whito Cliffs, aud that he feared the Rev. Mr. Whiteley was amongst the number. It would be difficult to describe the appearance of the town at this juncture. .Knots of people gathered about the street, and crowds collected together at each of the corners eagerly enquiring the truth from one another, but few seemed to have any particulars further than we have above stated. A council consisting of the Civil Commissioner, Mr. Parris, his Honor the Superintendent, the Provincial Secretary, Major Stapp, and one or two other settlers immediately assembled to decide wbat should be done ; being in doubt whether it was a general rising of the natives. Often has this unfortunate settlement been subject to trials, and many of its settlers murdered, but never has it been our lot to chronicle a massacre of so awful a character as this, done as it was without warning of any kind. The first -steps taken by the authorities was to charter the s.s. ' Wellington' to take arms and ammunition down to Urenui, and a quantity was immediately sent on board, His Honor the Superintendent then made arrangements to proceeded to Urenui ; and about 7.30 the steamer took her departure. Major Stapp also ordered Cornet Bayly, with thirteen mounted men, to proceed to Urenui and report the above to Captain Good. The state of suspense the settlers that night were in, may be better imagined than our pen is able to describe. Nothing was heard bat exaggerated rumours of the occurrence, of which at that time, no one knew the true particulars. CALLING CPON VOLUNTEERS FOR ACTIVE SERVICE. At about 8 o'clock a notice was issued by Major Stapp, Commander of the Militia, calling for fifty men to volunteer for active service to proceed to the White Cliffs to fetch the bodies of those murdered. This was also proclaimed throughout the town by one authorised to do so ; and at the same time notices were issued to the members of the Taranaki Light Infantry, and Taranaki Cavalry Volunteers to be in readiness to proceed on the morrow to the White Cliffs. A MESSENGER IN WITH NEWS. j At about 7 a.m. on the next morning (16th), a horseman at full pace came into town. It proved to be Mr. McDonald from the district close to where the murders had been committed. Early as ft was in the morning, numbers of the settlers speedily made their way to the Militia Office eager for information. < TCRTKER PARTICULARS. On our going to the spot we found that Mr. McDonald had brought further particulars of the affair. He said that on Saturday evening (13th) the R«v. Mr. Whiteley passed the house occupied by his father, mother,, and sister, which is about four miles from Pukearuhe and said he would call there as be returned. It was then dusk, between seven or eight o'clock we suppose. The next day ho did not call as he had promised, but the weather being very stormy they imagined he had remained with Lieut. Gascoigne at the White Cliffs and had not returned to town. Ou the Monday Hi\ McDonald's family went to Work es usual on their land, not suspicious that any thing had -occurred; and John McDonald the son having some business at the White Cliffs, went, and caught a horse to rida over there. He had some difficulty i» doing this, as the horse was fresh, so when he had caught the animal, (to makeup toy lost time) he rode towards Pufcearube at k stiff pace, not noticing anything different About the place till he suddenly arrived Tjhere. Here he saw the form of a man lyiiig on the grass, a few yards from the entrance to the redoubt, which after a moment or two he recognised as the body of the Rev. John Whiteley. For the first time he looked towards thw blockhouse, ' and saw'thafc it aud thte whares had been burnt. He immediately gallopped off to his father and gave the alarm, and then went refund to the other settlers to warn them phat murder was rife amongst them. Mr«. T. Saell, who was only a mile from the s&ene of the awful tragedy, he found working in the bush. The families of all the setters in this district then quickly packed up all they could and left for Urenui. Strange to say, that none living out there either heard the report of firearms or saw any reflection of the burning blockhouse and whares. DEPARrORtf OF THE ARMED FORCE FOR THE BODIES. j The" sis. 'Wellington' did not heap in sight until past II a.m. on Tuesday morning, and when she did arrive we i >ur.d that no further intelligence thau that brought by Mr. McDonald wns it > be , obtained. She had on board sc feral families, who had left fche outsettlersents i in that direction, to seek srAsty nft the j jf> k

town. At about 2 p.m. the following force of Volunteers were paraded in front of the Militia office, and were marched to the steamer, under command of Captain J. S. McKellar and Lieutenant Reginald Bayley; Dr. O'Carroll, Assistant Staff Surgeon, also accompanied them :: — • Taranulci Light Infantry Volunteers. . . 24 „ Militia 48 n They were put ou board the steamer at about 3 o'clock, after which she steamed away for Waiiti, (the landing place) about five miles from the White Cliffs. This little foree — the picked men of the place — consisting of the sous of our settlers and many who had served in the Imperial army, and had obtained tbeir discharge to settle in the Province, seemed impressed with but one determination — that of recovering the bodies of those massacred, and of punishing the murderers if they showed themselves or attempted to oppose them. All those in town hastened to the beach to see them depart on their brave errand, and wished them from their hearts " God speed and a safe return." Previous to the steamer leaving, Major Stapp went with a party of mounted troopers under charge of Cornet Bayly, overland for the purpose of covering the landing of those sent in the steamer ; and Captain Wilson and another party of ten mounted men quickly followed. At the Waitara they came up with Mr. Harris and the Provincial Secretary, who had started earlier in the day. ARRIVAL OF THE FORCES AT WAIITI. The mounted troopers all reached Urenui at about 4 p.m. on that day (ICth) and at once pushed forward for Waiiti gap, the place agreed on for the force sent by the s.s. ' Wellington' to land at ; and arrived at half-past 5 p.m. Tho steamer cast anchor at about 5 p.m., about a mile and a quarter from the shore. The Militia were landed first in charge of Captain McKellar, and after- \ wards the Taranaki Light Infantry Volunteers under the command of Lieut. Reginald Bayley. The mounted troops proceeded at once with Major Stapp to the i White Cliffs the Volunteers acted as a covering party a short distance along the road. The reason the party went so late in the I evening to the spot was to assist, if possible, any that might only have been wounded. They found the body of the Rev. John Whiteley lying just at the rise of the hill near where the blockhouse was. The bodies of the family of Gascoigne'swere discovered buried a few yards from where their hut stood. Not finding anyone about, the force returned to Waiiti again, arriving there a little past 7 p.m. They all camped for the night at the whare of Mr. D. Bayly. Pickets were stationed around the place, and no one was allowed to pass without an order. FINDING OF THE BODIES. At about 6 a.m. on Wednesday, (17th), the forces started for the White Cliffs for the pnrpose of disinterring the bodies and bringing them to town. The boat was sent on under the charge of Captain Holford, Harbour Master, and a crew of the Lighter Company's service, and arrived at about a quarter pastß a.m. The body of the Rev. John Whiteley was first seen, lie was lying on his face, a few yards from his dead horse. His coat and waistcoat were gone, and one leg was doubled under him. He had five bullet wounds ; and must have been killed by a .volley fired from some bushes to his right as he was going towards the blockhouse. They next disinterred the family of the Gascoignes. Lieutenant Gascoigne's face bad marks of bruises on it, and his head had four deep tomahawk wounds on the back of it. Mrs. Gascoigne had two tomahawk wounds at the back of her head, and the left side of her face much bruised, as though she had been beaten with the clenched fist of a mac. The skin was off her knees, showing that her body must have been dragged along the ground. The third finger of her left hand had been chopped, aud the wedding ring taken therefrom. The body of the eldest girl Laura, had a mark as if something had been drawn very tightly round the body ; and two wounds at the back of the head. The boy Cecil John Gascoigne had three wounds on the back of his head, and the baby Louisa Annie, had its head nearly severed fromits body. While these bodies were being disinterred, Major Stapp, Dr. O'Carroll and others were looking about for tho bodies of the murdered men. Dr. O'Carroll went into a whare near where tho redoubt formerly stood and here he saw the remains of two cats and a dog. They were all tomahawked. He then went to where the redoubt stood, but | could discover no signs of any bodies being | buried there. On his going down the road which leads to the beach, he saw the body of- a man. He then informed Major Stapp and having got a covering party, he went further on and found the bodies of the two men, lying dead— one a little in advance of the other. The one nearest the redoubt was Edward Richards, who appeared to have been hit by a lonotomahawk, as he was in the act of runnin<r away. He was dressed, but his cap was off his head and was lying a few feet from him. About eighteen yards from him ! the body of John Milne was found, and underneath his body' was a part of the handle of a tomahawk. Dr. O'Carroll then went on the beach where, he says, he saw several aiaked footmarks in the sand. DESCRIPTION* 0* 1 PCKEARUIIE. The redoubt at Pukearuhe is situated about.thirty-sbc miles from New Plymouth. It commands the approaches from the Waikato country ; the only road being one leading from the Mokau river. To the pouth it looks over the country for at loust a couple of miles, but from the eastward it is commanded by a range of hills not more than 400 to 500 yards distant. A deep gully, however, intervenes as an obstacle to any sudden rnsh from an enemy, which would be impossible at night, arid impracticable .during tlie day, provided there was a

small force in the redoubt to repel them. ' Ib is unapproachable from the beach from its height above the level of the sea, therefore, the redoubt could not be assaulted well from that side ; the only . entrance being- a footpath rising- about one foot in six from the sea shore, There were several whares in the redoubt and i a bullet proof blockhouse in which the [ arms of the military settlers wore usually j kept. The blockhouse was burnt down, ! also several of the whares. In one of the huts not destroyed near where the redoubt stood, several hams, and some bacon was found hanging- up, also salt and potatoes. A sow and a Utter of pigs, and some fowls were alive, and wandering about I loose. In one of the huts a book w;is found on the floor, the title of which was " Hector O'Halloran," It appeared as if it had been suddenly thrown down. * BRINGING THE BODIHS TO TOWN. The bodies of those murdered were put on. board the cargo boat at about 9 o'clock an£ then left with a fair wind for the Muni; took in Mr. Messenger's furniture, and thfn sailed for New Plymouth. Unfortunately the wind died away, and the boat made but slow progress. The s.s. ' Phoebe' called into cfi|r roadstead on her way to the Manukaii that afternoon, and on T. Henderson, Esq., the owner, hearing- of the massacre, and that a cargo boat had gone to fetch the bodies, kindly volunteered to look out for it, and to tow it back to town. His Honor the Superintendent, previous to Mr. Henderson's departure thanked him on behalf of the Provide for thua kindly rendering such au.important service on the occasion. The steamer's flag was half-mast during the time she was in port. The s.s. ' Phoebe' left about 5 p.m., and at about 6 o'clock met the boat. She then tugged it back t > New Plymouth, arriving at about 8 p.m. It was a strange sight fcfwitness the landing of the bodies. It was a beautiful evening and the moon, which was about five days old, seemed to throw a melancholy light upon the sands where there must havo been over a thousand persons assembled. The bodies were conveyed to the shed next the 'CustgjSi House, where they remained until after the inquest. the BxcrrjsMßNr at new Plymouth. The excitement in New Plymouth as family after family with their fnrnituro c line into town, hai 1 , on Wednesday, got to that pitch that several geutleinen went to his Honor the Superintendent and requested him to issue a notice so as to inspire some confidence in the settlement, as they believed it was not a general rising of the King natives ; so his Honor about mid-day • issued the following proclamation :—: — " Sunerintendont's Office, _ " NewiPlymoutb, Feb. 17, 1869. " No positive information lias yet bairn obtained as to the natives wW have coinmiciod tho' late murders at the White Cliff*, buc there is every reason to suppose that io is the aot of a small party of theNgalimaniapoto, audl believe, does uot indicate any general rising of the King party. Should any reason to doubt this come to my knowledge 1 sliull mako iD k jown at once. Messengers have been sent in all directions, to ascertain whether the natives of other tribes have any connection with this outrage, but there is no reason whatever to think that such is the caso. An armed party will occupy the Puke-a-ruhe Block, i'or the present, garrisons havo been stationed on the Tikoratigi, Mataitawa, Tataraimakd, and Okato Blookhousus. " H. H. Richmond, " Superintendent." THE INQUEST. The jurymen summoned for the inquest were in attendance at the Institute, at 5 o'clock on Wednesday evening, (l^th), but owing to the bodies not havingarrived, they were dismissed till the next day at 9. jAt that hour the following gentlemen assembled and were sworn :—: — Wright Ruffler King, Thomas Smith, David Callaghauj John Brooking, .Robert North Keeling, Darius Shuttleworth, Hector McLean, William Beale, Simeon Howell, William Gaylard, John. Moverly, Thomas Barnabas Lethbridge, James Divine, Augustus Weyei'gang, (foreman) . The Coroner, J. Flight, Esq.. briefly addressed them, and then proceeded tj view the bodies. After that they returned to the Institute, and the following witnesses were examined :: — • Frederick Trent, sworn : I knew John Whiteley, Bamber Gascoigne, Annie Gascoigue, Laura Gascoigne, Ceoil John Gascoigne, Louisa Annie Gascoiguo, John Milne, and Edward Richards. Those are their bodies which the jury have this morning viewed. Yesterday morning in company with others I went to the site of the late block house at the White Cliffs. The first body I saw there was that of the Rev. Mr. Whitelev. It was lying close to the redoubt in the road. His horse was lying alongside of him on its back. The horse had neither saddle nor bridle on. The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. G.iscoigne, and their three children were lying where a hut once ' occupied by Dr.O'Carroll had stood, about 3C yards from the Redoubt. I saw the body of Edward Richards in the rear to the north of the redoubt. I also saw the body of John Milne lying in tho same road leadiug to the boach that Richard's body was in but further down towards the beach. The bodies of the above persons were putr iuto a boat, and I accompanied them to town. On arriving at town I saw them deposited in the room in which thejury viewed them this morning. — Cross-examined : I have had frequent conversations with Mr. Gascoigne as to tho safety of his abode. He said he thought it was perfectly safeand that if there was any danger, ample notice would be given them. Mr. Guscoigne told me about two months ago that Mr. Pan-is or the Stiueriutendent had promised that duo notice would bo given of any danger, and on the strength of that he felt perfectly satisfied and thought there was no danger there. Charles Stapp; sworn : I am a Major in the Taranaki ' Militia living in' New Plymouth. The White Cliffs block house hits been garrisoned since the occupation of theblock by settlers. The garrison at first oonsisted of 50 men, but was afterwards rediicud to 25. Captain Pfige formerly commanded and latterly Lieut. Gascoigne did so. The officer, in command received tho full pay of his rank. The garrison was discontinued on the Ist March, 1863, by order of the General Government. 1 have heard that the block house has been since kept by two natives employed by Mr. Parris with the concurrence of the Superintendent for ihe purpose of keeping a look-out. I have heard that the natives were the two Epias both chiefs of the Onaeros. The White Cliffs is the key of the northern part of the settlement. , Ten' or twelve men might keep that block house for a short time if Attacked, 25 men ought to do so. The block house was bullet proof. A party of bushrangers have ruceutly been formed for the protection of tho Province, that is since- tho disasters at Patea, Thoso bushrangers have not

made periodical visits to the White Cliffs. Before that time Sub-Inspector Nowland had been ordered to patrol between that and Warea. I am commanding Oflicer of the Militia and Volunteers and bushrangers of this Province. My opinion was not askod as to the safety of withdrawing the ! force from the White Cliffs. Thomas I<M ward Rawson, sworn : lain Colonial Surgeon. I huvo examined the bodies of the deceased this morning. All except the Rev. Mr. Whiteley have been killed by tomahawk wounds on tho skull and face. I could not discover gunshot wounds about those bodies. Such wounds were sulnuient to cause death and must have been inflicted by others than themselves. There are no tomahawk wounds about the Rev. Mr. Whiteley, but there are live guushot wounds each suliioiont to cause death. One wound passed through the loft end of the stomach, coming ont behind, another in front under the right collar bone, passed through the chest. There were three gunshot wounds behind in different oavts of the chest. lam of opinion that these wounds would cause death instantaneously. fTttriok Joseph O'Carroll, sworn : I am a medical practitioner prnutisiug in Now Plymouth. 1 have examined the bodies wuich the jury have this morning viewed. I concur with Dr. Rawson in everything ho has said in his evidence. The tomahawk wounds on John Milne were, one smashing through the bridge of the no^e, and also the cheuk bonus, another cutting through the integuments of the mouth and crushing In the teeth, one in tho forehead above the lefi eye, and another oue iv the back of the head. The brains protruded from the wonud in the back of the head which inuso have caused instant death. Richards had been 1 tomahawked in the face and the back of the head where there wore four wounds which must have caused instantaneous death. There were marks of bruises abont the face of Bainber Gasooiguo, also four duep tomahawk wounds id the back of the hegd which produced death. One of the wounds wai much larger r.hau the rest as though made with an American axe. Mrs. Gasooigue tfcud two tomahawk wounds in the back of her head which caused death. The left side of the faoeVas very much bruised as though it had been beaten with pa, oleuched iist. Tha skiu was off the knees shewing that the body had been dragged along the ground. On tho body of Laura Gasooigne there is the mark of something having been drawn very tightly round tho body. There were two tomahawk wounda on the back of tho head apparently indicted with a short handled tomahawk, whw] the child was in a horizontal positiou. These would produce death. On the body of Cecil John Uu9coigne there were three wounds ou tho back of the head caused by a tomahawk and sufficient to cause death. Tho child Louisa Annie Gasooigue had a severe tomahawk wound on the back of the head nearly severing the upper part, causing immediate death. The°gonshot Hiounds ou Mr; jjWhiteley!s body appear to have been all indicted *by rifle bullets such as are nsed by tho Militia. On Tuesday last the lGth February, 1869, I accompauied mi expedition to Bearoh for and recover the bodies of the Rev. Mr. Whiteley and others. Ou the following day I aocompauied Major Stapp and others to Pukearuhe Rudoubt. Near the redoubt I saw a dead horse with tho branch of a bush beside it. I discovered Mr. Whitelcy's body under the branch. His coat and waistcoat were both off. There was no bridle or saddle ou tho horse. Mr. Whitelcy's braces and trowsera were uufaaiened. On going towards the redoubt [ diverged to tho right near a whare and saw the bodies of two cats and a dog which had been tomahawked. I tkjm went into th« redoubt but fotiud no bodies there. I then went down a new road towards the beach and found thefe*dy of Richards, which appeared to have befen struck down when in the act of runuing cowards tho beach. All his clothes were on him with the exception of his cap which was lying near. Abont eighteen yards nearer the beach 1 found the body of John Milne. He was dressed completely exceptiug his cap^wlnoh was lying near him with a oat iv it. Underneath tho body of Milne I found a part of the, handle of a tanmha.wk which I gave to Sergeant" Edward H'uniji&ries. I then went to the beach and there saw several naked foot marks in the sand between the stones. They appeared to be goiug in a north-east direction. There were a great many foot marks. I can't say whether they are fresh inarksor not. Ou my return I found that the family oi the Gasooignes were being disinterred. Bambor Gascoigne was underneath then his wife and on them wore the children. They were ou the floor of iha whare and the earth thrown over them. G.isooigne had his clothes on . Mrs. Gascoigae and the children had their night clothes on. Mre. Gascoigne had her petticoat on over her night gown.— By the jury : I believe the Gascoignes were all killed at one time. I think Mr. Whitoley was shot an hour or more after them. His body is not so much decomposed as those of the other persons. In one of tho houses near the redoubt there were several hams and some bacon, also salt and potatoes. I also saw a book iv the same house lying on the floor, as if it had been thrown down. There wero stools on each side of the fire place. The house was Milne's cook house. I noticed thab a napkin was wrapped round the youngest Gascoigne'a body. The wedding ring tiuger of Mrs. Gaaooigne was cut off. There was no ring on her hands. There were no marks of any struggle having taken place. The inquest was then adjourned till Monday next, to enable further evidence co be prooured. THE FUNERAL. At about 3 o'clock, the time appointed for the funeral, the settlers met at tbe foot of Mount Eliot. The bodies were prepared for burial immediately after they had been viewed by the jury. The following 1 is a list of the names and ages of the deceased, as they appeared on the plates fixed to the comas :—: — Rev. John Whiteley, aged G2 years. John Milne, aged 40 years. Edward Richards, aged 35 years. Bambex 1 Gascoigne, aged 38 years. Annie Gascoigne, aged 27 years. Laura Gascoigne, aged 5 years. Cecil John Gascoigue, aged 3 years. Louisa Annie Gasooigne, aged 3 months. The bodies of Milne and Richards were put into the first conveyance, and covered with a Union Jack. The chief mourners, Skinner and Gutterman, were comrades of the deceased. In the next carriage was placed the facuily of the Gascoignes, followed by Major Stapp, Capt. Messenger, Ensign Hursthouse, and Assistant-Sugeon P. J. O'Oarroll. The hearse, containing the body of the late Rev. John Whiteley*, then followed, the chief mourners bein-' Dr. Rawson and other male relatives of the Rev. gentleman. The procession then fell-in, iv the following order :: — • The Civilian Settlers* The Taranaki Light Infa.itry Volunteers. ; The Militia. I The Taranaki Cavalry Volunteers. >j The 18th Royal Lish. I There must have been over a thousand persons in the procession, which reached irom Liardet-street to Brougham-street. The body of the Rev. John Whiteiey was taken to the Wesleyan Chapel, where the commencement of the burial service was read by tho Rev. Mr. Thomas and the Rev. Mr.* Waters ; after which a hymn was sung. The corpse was then removed to the hearse, and the procession proceeded on to the Cemetery. On arriving there the corpse of the Rev. John Whiteley was interred first, the Yen. Archdeacon Govett reading the remaining portion of the service over the body. The other bodies

were buried in a different park of the Cemetery, the Rev. Mr. Brown performing the last duty over their grave. The public offices and the bank, besides the stores in town were all closed ; and I the ensign at tho signal station raised half, mast till after the funeral. SUPPOSKL) AUTHOIW Civ THE AHSSACRE. We learn, through the agency of Porikapa, that More who is now down south on one of his peace errands, stated on learning of the massacre, that on one occasion when pa«iur through Ngatimaniopoto, Reihana, leader of a considerable section of that tribe, gave him to understand he disapproved of his work, and would stop his road ; and he think* that the outrage was committed by him. Dr. Pollen thinks that Tapihana of Hangatiki, a leader of another section of the >Tgatiraaniopoto respecting whom he lately gave a warning, has been the instigator. When he wished the king party to rise in. the Waikato, the reply of the Kiug was, " that if he wished to fight he must go to Tito Kowaru." He therefore infers that as he could not bring ou fighting in Waikato, that the next best thing was to begin it at Taranaki, which it is supposed he has done by committing the late murder at the W hit,e Cliffs. Patara considers it id done to spite the Taranaki natives because they would not make common cause with the Ngatimaniapoto in their desire for war. Or it might be in revenge for the Chatham Isianders taking possession of the land north of the Ureuui, which they consider is theirs by right of conquest, and for their refusing to join them in their opposition to the Pakeha. Michael Murphy, (late of tho 57th Regiment) was brought before the Resident Magistrate yesterday on the information of T. Kelly Esq., and charged with having been concerned in the late murders of the Hew John Whiteley and others. Owing- to the absence of a most material witness, the prisoner was remanded until this day at 10 o'clock. DISTRICT ORDER ' FROM THB OFMCIItt COMMANDING THK MILITIA. I The following district order was issued [ on Wednesd&y,i>y Major Stapp :-— " HeY Plymouth, Feb. 17, 186*9. " The c imanding officer is desirous to express to the officers, non-commissioned officers, au<l men of the Turaruiki Militia, the Tavanaki Cavalry Volun teera, and Tiirinaki Light [n'.antry Volunteers, thI great pleasure which he will have in bringing to j the notico of the Government the alarrity with i which they responded to his summons to proceed with him in search of tho bodies of tht»ir fellowcouutrymdn lately murdered at Pukearuhe. "C. Stapp, Bi.-M.ijor, "Commanding T. M. District. MEETING TO CONSIDER OCR DEI'KNUELESS POSITION. A public meeting was held in th c Taranak i Institute on the evening of Thursday, the 1 8th instant, to take into consideration a notice from his Honor the Superintendent, dated 15th October, 18C8, also the lato murder of the Rev. John Whiteley and others, and also what steps should betaken for the safety of the Province; when the fallowing resolutions were passed :—: — Moved- by Mr. UVjoun, seconded by Mr. W. Bayly, and agreed to, — " That in the opinion of this meeting, tho proclamation of his Honor tho Superintendent of 15th October, 1868, has misled tha settlers." Mr. T. Kelly proposed, and Mr. ¥. U. Gledkill seconded,— " That this meeting is of opinion that the condition of this settlement urgently requires a division of the Armed Constabula>y to be located here, in addition to the bushrangers, in order to give security to the out-settlers and to prevent tho commission of other outrages similar to the recent deplorable one at the White Cliifa.'* On the motion of Mr. F. U. Gledhill, seconded by Mr. W. K. Hulkb, it was moved, — " That a deputation consisting of Messrs. Hirst and Dingle be appointed to proceed do Wellington .with hie Honor the Superintendent, to lay the above Resolution before the General Government aud urge its immediate adoption.'* — There are, several other particulars which might be added to the above account ; and which we will endeavour to supply in our next issue. We cannot, however, conclude our remarks without bearing testimony to the prompt action taken by Major Stapp in sending so quickly, with such limited means, the little force to the scene of the murder. __ _ Lieuti Rowan, who has not recovered from the wound he received at Ruaruru, bravely accompanied the force to the White Cliffs. ' The Chatham Island natives have been threatened by the Mokau Natives, so have left that district, aud come this aide of the UreuuL