MURDER OF THE MESSRS. MERE DITH .

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1901, 30 July 1863, Page 3

MURDER OF THE MESSRS. MERE DITH .

On the morning of the 15th instant, we (New Zealander) received from out correspondent at Drury the following telegram, whicU we immediately made public : LATEST FROM DRURY. Wednesday, July 15, Noon. The following telegram from Drury was received this day at noon : "One man and a boy have been found murdered at Shepherd's Bush. There is no doubt but they were killed by the Maories." "The escort from Drury to Tuakau stopped on the way. Reinforcements gone on." Later in the day we were informed lhat the name of those found in " Shepherd's Bush," was Mebedith, father and son, aged respectively 59 iiud 14yeais; that they had left their homes on the South road, about three miles beyond Drury, on Tuesday morning, for the puipose of going to their work of putting up' fencing, at a place distant about half a mile from their house ; that not having returned at night, search was made, and their, bodies fouud and brought into Drury yesterday. It was said that both had been tomahawked. LaLer iv the day we were in* formed that there were no marks of violence on the bodies, and that an inquest was to be appointed to be held at once. At an hour still later, it was reported lhat over the right eye on each body, there was a tomahawk wound which must have caused instant death, and that several wouuds were visible on other parts oi the bodies. The Southern Cross says — | It appears that the unfortunate men went out to work, as usual, yesterday Booming, but as they did not return at nightfall, their neighbors became alarmed, and search was made fur them. The Camp and hotels were visited last night, but in vain ; and it was thought by some that having been benighted in the bush, they would turn up all right in the morning. The morning came, however, but not the men ; and it was about, ten o'clock, when three armed civilians wens,,ip.to Shepherd's Busb, and discovered the bodies, parUy covered with fern. The. murdered men are Mr Meredith and! one of his sons; men deservedly respected in the community.

! They were partially stripped. The old man had on a pair of drawers and shirt, and some trifling articles of clothing was ou the body of his son. The party who found the body, bearing the natives in the vicinity in the bush, did not deem it prudent to remain, but returned to convey the intelligence to the camp. The bodies were brought in shortly after their discovery. An inquest is to be held.