Untitled

Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 21, 20 October 1874, Page 268

We take the following telegraphic item from the New Zealand Times:Paora Tuhaere, a friendly Orakei chief, brought intelligence to the police to-day (Saturday, 17th Oct. instant), of a barbarous murder that had been committed at his settlement. A detective was immediately sent with him, and the following facts were elicited. A young woman named Henrietta Te Puni was on Tuesday evening going from one whare to another, when a Native known by the name of Newton called her to return and go with him to his whare, which was 200 yards from that where the young woman's friends lived. A little girl followed, and found them sitting on the sward together, apparently in angry altercation. The man was importuning the woman to marry him, but she would not consent. Soon afterwards the little girl heard the man call out, in the Native language, that the woman was dead. There was a great consternation among the Natives, and the murderer was at once seized and secured. It was found that the body of the woman was literally covered with bruises. It is conjectured that, as there are no cuts about her body, her neck must have been broken. The Natives have held an inquest, and returned a verdict of murder against the prisoner. On the arrival of the detective, Paora gave the accused into his custody, and ordered a boat to be manned to convey them to town. By this means the prisoner was brought to town. The murdered woman was about twenty-five years of age, and the prisoner, who is short in stature and heavily tatooed, is about thirty years of age. lie seems to be very unconcerned about his position. By the last mails we are informed that the annexation of Eiji is completed, and that the English flag was to be floated for the first time on the Sth of October instant. Eight hundred salmon, recently arrived from Hobart Town, have been turned into the streams in j various parts of the Province of Auckland.