THE TARANAKI MASSACRE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 474, 6 March 1869, Page 2

THE TARANAKI MASSACRE.

The following is an extract from a letter received in Westport from a correspondent at New Plymouth:— " You have already been informed of the particulars of the dreadful event at the "White Cliffs. Since then information has been received from Mokau to the effect that it was a declaration of war according to Maori custom from Weteri Ta Kerei, Te Kaka, and Tapihana, the two former being Mokau Chiefs, the latter living somewhere to the north of that place —all Ngatimaniapotos. Weteri used to sail the Paranihinihi, which was seized in the Waitara, and sold by the G-overnment after Weteri had joined the rebels. He had sent to Webster's lately saying he wished to trade with them, and wished them to send their new vessel, ttie Falcon, there. This they could not do without the consent of the Commissioner, which they either had, or intended to have, written for. It is fortunate that she did not go, as it is certain that the captain (Kean, late of the Albatross,) and crew would have been murdered, and the vessel taken, as a half-caste (one of the four concerned in the murders) was on board the Falcon in the Urenui, and told the captain they should have her in lieu of the Paranihinihi. The chiefs named number about 250 men. As far as can be learned, the King was no party to it, and it has been known for some time past that there have been two parties in his Councils —one for peace, the other for war. One thing is clear, that so long as there is a place of refuge on our frontier from which bands of murderers can come and go, there can be no safety for outsettlers, and the settlement would be ruined. Col. Haultain was here yesterday in the Sturt, and has promised to send up 100 of the Armed Constabulary at once, but as it is expected that the troops will be removed, we shall be no stronger, save that we shall have a moveable force. The families of the outsettlers have come

into town, and it is just a repetition of the lost outbreak. Fortunately we had fine weather all last week, which has enabled the farmers to get in most of their corn. By the last accounts the natives were a few miles north of the White Cliffs, where they said they should wait to be attacked, but as the Government is not likely to send men into Mokau, I expect they will soon be coming into the settlement. Before this event people were generally in good spirits and things began to look better, but now they are well nigh in despair, as they may well be, some of the settlers having had to break up their homes for the third time."