THE MAORI WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 166, 23 November 1868, Page 3

THE MAORI WAR.

THE POVERTY BAY MASSACRE. {From the Hawhes* Bay Herald, Nov. 17.) So far aa can be gathered, the Hau-haus arrived from an inland direction between 2 and 3 a.m. on Tuesday, the 10th insfc. The first house they came to was that of Messrs Dodd and Pepperd, both of whom were killed, as well aa two men in their employment. Sergeant-Major Butter waa the first to discover what had happened here. He reached the wool-shed between 4 and 5 o'clock on that morning, he having engaged to shear there. The house waa about 400 yards off, and, seeing no movement there, he walked over to it. When he reached it the dogs were barking furiously. Passing by them, to the back of the building, he saw Mr Dodd and Mr Pepperd both lying dead, shot, the latter lying across the doorway. He immediately returned to the shed, took his curbine, and rode over to Warangaheka to warn Atkins and his wife, also a shearer named Spence. He then fired off his piece as a warning to others, and proceeded to Messrs Hawthorne and Strong to warn them. Having seen Mr Strong and two others, he proceeded to the house of Major Biggs. When he got there he saw horses belonging to the Hau-haus saddled, in front of the house; he then turned round and made for Tauranganui. Captain Wilson's house was the nearest to Major Bigg-, and about half a mile from the latter. Respecting the death of Captain Wilson and family, Mrs James — who, with her six children, escaped from Matewhero into the bush, upon the alarm being given, and reached the stockade in the course of the day — states that when passing CaDtain Wilson's she saw that gentleman and his •wife lying dead at the gate of the garden, both shot, lie with three shots in hit body. She ateo saw John Moran, alias Jack Jiinple, lying' on his bed, burnt almost to a cinder. When Major Biggs' house waa surrounded, a lad named Charles James, 17 years of age, who lived there as servant, managed to make his escape. He states that Major Biggs was aroused by a knocking, and on opening the door was shot. The boy rushed to the front door of the house, and was met by a number of Hau-haus. He then ran for the back door and made his escape, although in doing so he fell over Major Biggs, who was then on the floor, wounded. When in the flax, where he concealed himself, he heard Major Biggs call out to his wife, " Emily, dear, make for thebusb; the Hau-haus are here." He then heard the screams of Mrs Biggs. At the same time, Captain Wilson's house hurst out in flames, and he heard shouts in that direction. The man Atkins, mentioned above as living at Warangaheka, states that after being warned by Sergeant Butter, he and liU wife proceeded to the house of Major Biggs, five miles distant. When they got there, they saw Major Biggs lying dead on a platform that connected the dwelling house with the kitchen, shot, but so much mutilated with tomahawks that he could not be recognised from his features. Mrs Biggs was lying inside the house — her child, with its brains dashed out, clasped to her bosom. He saw nothing of the Hau-has. The house of Lieut. Walsh (who, it will be remembered, shewed signal bravery on a former occasion) stood between the residence of Major Biggs and that of Mrs Bloomfield. Early on Tuesday morning, si man named James Garland, employed by Captain Read, heard firing going on. After a short time he proceeded to Mrs Bloomfield'i house; he walked in and found no one. It appeared afterwards that Major Biggs' lad, shortly after making his escape, ran over to Mrs Bloomfield'a and roused a servant boy there named Thomas Newton, telling him that the Hau-haus had murdered Major Biggs. The lad thought he was only joking, and would not get up till he heard a shot ; he then jumped out of bed and awoke the inmates, consisting of Mrs Bloonifleld (whose, husband lately died) and her three children, Miss Stagnall, and Miss Minnie Parker (formerly of Napier and then on a visit to Mrs Bloomfield). They hurried on a few clothes and took to the bush, carrying the children. In this way they ran seven or eight miles, and eventually reached the stockade, Turanganui, in safety. , ', Garland, after leaving Bloomfield's house, proceeded to Lieut. Walsh's. He sawWdsh,

his wife and child, lying outside, shot. He then proceeded 'to Cadle and Blair's store about 100 yards from Lieut. Walsh's. He saw Cad!e lying dead, shot, also a friendly native named Hoera Wakaoneha, and a returned Hau-hau ex-prisoner named Paul. He (Garland) then proceeded to Mr Uhren's ; he found the place deaerted ; and then made his way to Turang.'inui. Atkins, after leaving Major Biggs' and the ghastly spectacle it presented, passed Mr Mann's house, about a mile nearer Tura ■•■ ganui. Mr Mann and his child were lyiiii,' inside, shot dead. Ho reached Turnnganui about 5 a.m. Daniel Munn, formerly of Napier, had a very narrow escape ; his statement is as follows : — About half-past 6 on Tuesday morning, Peter Moren and I went over to Mr Parker's for the purpose of getting shears and Moren's horse — our destination being Mr Scott's station inland, to shear. When we got to Mr Parker's, we founfl that nearly everyone had crossed the river. One or two persons whom I law asked me if Ihadi seen the Hau-haus ; I said no, and that this report would turn out like other false reports that had lately be«n current. They said that they heard shots in the direction of Wyllie'a. I advised them not to be in a hurry to run away, saying that I would fro there and get information. I crossed the river, and went to my own house, caught my horse, took down arms and accoutrements, and rode in the direction of Moanga redoubt. All being quiet there I proceeded near to the whare of Tutare, a friendly chief. I there saw a man like Tutare, dressed in black clothes and white cap. He was talking to a friendly native, who was on horseback; there wag also a friendly native lad. I rode up to within three yards of him, and bade him " Tenakoe," when he said, <: Where are you from," presented his rifle and fired at me. The ball passed through a portion of my arm and out of my back. My horse wheeled round, and I galloped towards Makaraka. Close to i Torr'« I met Edward Brown a half caste. ' I told him I was shot, and asked him to get me a drink, and I gave him carbine, revolver, and sword. He escorted me to Turanganui, where I was lifted off my horse, and my wound was carefully dressed. Mr Harris states that he did not know anything of what was going on at Matewhero until 6 o'clock on Tuesday morning;. He was moving about, preparing to shear, when a native came and told him that the Hau-haus were near at hand. Shortly after, another came and said that some murders had been committed, and advised us to get the women and children across the river to Westrupp's place. Mrs Harris apd child, Miss Fergusson, Mrs Dunlop and six children, were accordingly sent over at once. From there they were sent to Tamihana's pa, where they found Mra Green, Mr Benson, wife and child, Mr Stephen son, wife and child, Mr and Mrs Wyllie, and several others who, had collected in the pah for safety. Upon conversing with the natives they advised the party to go to Murewai, seven miles distant, as the pah was unprotected. Upon reaching Murewai, the natives there said they could not protect them, and advised them to start for Table Cape, a distance of twenty-five i miles. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. We have been kindly permitted to see a private letter written by a gentlemnn residing at Hawke's Bay, whose sources of information are among the best. He says : — " Te Kooti has gone as far as Oweta, and burnt all the settlers' houses in that neighbourhood. He went on Saturday and toll the people whom he found that if. they would not join him he would have them all shot. Kenata Whakaari was shot at once, and seven others were put under arrest, probably for the same purpose,XKooti, it is said, burnt the guns he found at Oweta, because they had contracted a " hara," in that they were used at Waerengahika, where the tlau haus were defeated/ They would consider them, I suppose, imlucky ; it is all the better, as he wij^have so many fewer than he might have hadj They say he is going to have three pafis— one at Kohanga Kareaaria, another at Pukeamionga, and a third up the Okahuatia valley, at the back of Patutahi. The latter place is where his women and children are. If this is correct, he means to stand his ground. The Ahuriri came in this morning from Waiapu, but she brings no men. I have not yet heard what the reason is, but I imagine it is that Ngatiporou do not care at this juncture, to send any more men away." The correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald, writing from Turanganui RedoubtA on Nov. 11, says : — lO a.m. — Mr Newnham and his wife, two aged settlers, have been murdered about an hour ago, and their house is now burning. The work of destruction continues. Many houses in flames are visible from this redoubt. Lieutenant Gascoigne is the only officer left alive in Poverty Bay. Capt. Westrupp, finding himself cut off from us, haa wisely collected the fugitives upon the south side or the Waipawa, and retreated upon Wairoa. There being many women and children with Capt Westrupp, we are very anxious to hear of their safe arrival. 4 p.m. — Messrs Poynter, Evans, Kempthorne, and Scott have safely arrived ; it was feared they were killed. The enemy are ascertained to number 500 ; a reinforcement of 300 is expected to join them, and we look J to hear that most of the Poverty Bay natives have joined Te Kooti. Tamihana's tribe, I believe, are certain to do so. The number of Europeans known to be killed at present is thirty, friendly natives five. Nov. 12. — The steamer's arrival appears to have quickened the Hau-hau movements; all this morning flames are ascending from houses in all directions. By night few of the beautiful homes of Poverty Bay will be left. The splendid and costly rnansidn belonging to the late Captain Bloomfleld Head, is in flames whilst I write; also the residences of Messrs Uhren, Dodd, and j Pepperd, Parker, Walsh, and Padbury^ Mr Tarr, Mrs li. Uhren, and many others, are burnincr,

6 p.m. — A letter from Hapi, a trustworthy native, has arrived; he thinks Te Kooti will not attack us, but intends to retire. The letter states that the bodies of Major Biggs, his wife and child, and those of Captain Wilson and his family, have teen devoured by pigs. • The total number of whites murdered up to date is ascertained to be 32; of the friendlies 22 have fallen— a sad total of 54 ; but there is good reason to believe that 20 more friendlies have been cut off at Wahakui, a native villag^ The news was brought in this evening, and I fear it is too true. Maior Biggs was awakened at 3 a.m. on. the 10th, by the tramp of horsemen surrounding his house. Rousing his family and servants, he told them the Hau-haus were upon them, and at the same time warning his servant lad to look to hi 3 rifle. Then, going to the front door he demanded of the wretches what they wanted. He was answered by a volley. Running back into the house, he exclaimed, " Oh, Emily, I nm done for ; save yourself and the baby." The poor lady would not desert her husband, but remained and died, with her child, by his side. Their female servant, Mrs Farrell, died with her mistress, to whom she was much attached. Captain Wilson fired at three of his murderers and fell by a bullet from a fourth. His wife and five children were killed ; their man servant was burnt and cut into three pieces. A shenrer going to the station of Messrs Dodd and Pepperd, at daylight on the 10th, found those gentlemen lying dead in their shirts upon their own thresholds. Their man servant was killed. Lieut. Walsh, his wife, child, and partner, were murdered inside their own dwelling — all mutilated. Mr Cadle fell dead upon his face in front of Cadle and Blair's store. Mrs McCulloch wa3 murdered, with her infant — her little brother standing by her side. The poor little fellow escaped by a miracle, and, by timely warning, saved the family of the late Captain Bloomfield Read, with the daughter and infant of Mr Parker, formerly of Napier, who were on a visit to Mrs Bloomfield Read. The ladies and children barely escaped in their night-dresses. A stockman of Captain Read's, hearing shots, rode off to ascertain the cause. At Mr Mann's he found two of the murderers burning the body of Mrs Mann in front of the house. One of them snatched at his bridle, but the horse swerving saved his rider's life, who galloped off, hotly pursued ; but he effected his escape. Mr Munn, in like manner, suddenly found himself surrounded and fired at by Hau-haus. Though desperately wounded, he got away. Mr Mann had a severe struggle with Te Kooti. He had nearly succeeded in strangling the villain, but being unarmed, was shot by another Hau-hau. Mr McCulloch was killed [whilst climbing his stockyard rails. Such are a very few of the details connected with this shocking massacre ; some particulars untold are horrible in the extreme. Nov. 13. Great news ! numbers of the sham friendlies have joined Te Kooti during the past night and this morning. Conspicuous amongst other noted scoundrels are the names of Wi Perry, a well-known, sinisterlooking, half-caste chief, and others. It is possible, however, that this may be only a rumour. 4 p.m. — A deputation of natives from Parateni, the chief of a loyal tribe across the bay, to request assistance in the shape of a liundred guns, and the presence of Hari, a native minister, in order that they may not have to turn Hau-haus. All the hou»es south of the Waipawa are said to be destroyed, but not yet burnt. N^ /Amidst our unavailing grief for the many "untimely victims, it is some consolation to reflect that the news of this lamentable and bloody business must in all human probability raise such a storm of indignation against Messrs Staltord and Haultain as will suffica to driva them from the seats they dishonour. They may strive yet to cling to office; they would possibly do so though bedabbled with the blood of every European resident in New Zealand ! They, like their protege Whitmore, may endeavour to bribe or burke the truth; but before God and outraged humanity they are directly responsible for this foul catastrophe. They cannot screen the truth, for " the finger of God is behind the curtain." _y' Te Kooti and his followers have broken Mr Robert Read's extensive wine stores, and are said to be lying drunk in twos and threes, all about. If correct, what a splendid opportunity for vengeance. 8 p.m. lam happy to say that Tamihana has falsified all our predictions and has proved faithful. Like Abdiel amongst the faithful found, "' he has proved to be gold refined," whilst his renegade tribe has deserted us.