TARANAKI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1896, 18 July 1863, Page 3

TARANAKI.

Dates from Taranaki are to Sunday the 12th inst,, but there is no intelligence of importance except the fuller details of Hori's trial. Captain Mundle informs us, that up to the hour of his tearing, nothing whatever had occurred there. THE TRIAL OF HORI THE HALF-OASTK, We have already given the result of this trial, but the Herald supplies fuller, and in one respect very astonishing details. Hori has been tried for the murder of Dr Hope, found guilty, and sentenced to death — but was afterwards brought up and tried on the charge of shooting at Lieut. Waller, found guilty and sentenced to penal servitude for life. The Herald says—" There are few or none wbo doubt Hori's guilt, but there are many we beliere wbo doubt the legal evidence of it," and adds — " From what we hare heard, we beliere it was predetermined not to carry out the capital sentence. If so, it seems to us that the trial was little better than a solemn mockery." The following given by the Taranaki Herald had considerable weight with the jury: — "The day after his capture he was asked a great many questions by Messrs Bell and Patris, aod gave valuable information as to the positions and number of the enemy, and without being warned in any way was interrogated as to his knowledge of the massacre of the 4tb May. He was asked ' Did you see the first shot fired?' — to which, according to Mr Pairis, he answered, ' Kua kite, — otira ktta rongo ou na, #•<;.,' which was translated, ' I saw it, — or rather I heard it was fired by so and so/ Some time after, when the ring and locket were found, Mr Pairis said to him ' We have found some more things belonging to Dr Hope near where you were|hid and think you must have been concerned in killing him, How could you have helped to kill a man that treated you so kindly?' (Dr Hope had dressed his baud a few days before the murder at the Talaraimaka camp). He answered 'Ko wai ka mohio — kuarep» katoa,' which was translated to mean, 'Who could know him when covered with dirt?" On Monday, Hori was again brought for trial on the charge of shooting at Lieut Waller with intent to murder him on 29th May last. By direction of the Judge ha pleaded not guilty, but after evidence he was found guilty, and sentenced to penal servitude for life for this offence.