MAORI PRISONERS EROM CHATHAM ISLANDS.

7

A.—No. 15.

and ordered the front door to be opened and the blind drawn up. He then came into tho front parlour, still pointing the revolver at me, and asked me for guns and ammunition. 1 told him I had none. 1 took some money out of a drawer, notes, gold, and silver, which I offered him. He took it, and then making me hold my hands, put it all back again, saying he would not take money. He then went into the bar, where he found an old gun, which he took, and then went out of the bar door. I then saw four others come in at the bar door, and they asked me for money. I told them to come in, and gave them all the money out of the drawer, to the amount of over £35. They asked me for a purse to put it in, and I gave them my handkerchief. They said it was very little, and I told them that the men had not got their pay yet. These four then went out of the bar door, and joined a lot who were inarching two and two past the door with guns and bayonets. I waved my hand, and said " Good bye." They did not reply. Some of them went off in a boat from the beach opposite the Courthouse, while the remainder went round to the Point. I watched them all on board. I then told Charlie to get the axe, and wo would let the ones in the gaol out; but when I had gone part of the way, Mrs. Sellwood, who was at the gaol door, called to us to go back until the vessel was gone. I then came back, and saw a boat coming from the " Eiflcman," when we all ran along the beach to try and get round the point by the river; but the water was too high, and we had to come back and go up the hill. When I arrived at Captain Thomas's house, I found Captain Thomas and most of the w rhite people there. Isabella Alexandee. Statement of Chaeles Puedy. I was in the house with Mrs. Alexander during the outbreak of the Hauhau prisoners, on Saturday last. I have seen her account of what she saw, and I myself saw nothing more than she has related. Chables Pttedy.

Statement of llenky Gason, Private, Armed Constabulary, Chatham Islands, respecting the Escape of the Hauhaus from Chatham Islands on the 4th July, 1868. About three o'clock in the afternoon, I was directed by Captain Thomas to bring the mail, which was on board the ketch " Florence," ashore. I did so ; and on landing saw a number of Maori prisoners standing outside the redoubt, waiting to carry up the stores as they were landed ; the boat was manned with eight men and Private Elliott. I brought tho mail to the office. At half-past three o'clock I was speaking with Corporal Marshall in the office, when it was reported by Private Sellwood that the redoubt was taken by the Hauhaus. I went outside, and saw one Hauhau on the parapet with a rifle. Immediately saw one shot fired, and heard two others in about five minutes after. Paora Tu, another of the prisoners, put his hand on me, and told me to follow tho others, namely, Taylor, Sellwood, Marshall, Eayner and his son, when ho locked the six of us up in one of the cells. About an hour afterwards a European broke the lock of our cell. I then broke open the cell where Captain Thomas (who was handcuffed) was, and several others. We all then made our escape to the house of Captain Thomas, where nearly all tho inhabitants of Waitangi, male and female, had assembled. Heney Gason, Private, Armed Constabulary, Chatham Islands.

Statement of E. Elliott, Commissariat Issuer. Saturday, 4th July, at 2-30p.m., I went on board the "Rifleman," with a crew of Hauhaus, for the purpose of discharging Government stores, but finding it raining too fast to take-flour or sugar, I left the ship with only a plough, much to the disappointment of the Hauhau crew, as they wanted to discharge as much cargo as possible on the 4th instant, why Ido not know. When landing, was told by M. Hennessy, late bugler to the Chatham Island Guard, that the Hauhaus had possession of the barracks. I looked toward the barracks, and saw, I should think, about fifty Hauhaus rushing into the barracks from the cookhouse. I ran along the beach towards the barracks ; saw Captain Thomas in front of me going up the steps ; coming out of the Courthouse he told me to hurry up with him, as the Hauhaus were taking the barracks, which I did. On Captain Thomas arriving at the gate, they seized him, and tied him hands and feet, on seeing which I was about to retreat, when about four or six rifles were fired at me; when about halfway up the steps the bullet entered the heel of my boot and grazed round my ankle; my boot being very thick leather saved my foot. I then ran into the adjoining house, Mrs. Alexander's, where I could see everything going on on the beach. I saw four Hauhaus tie Mr. A. Shand, hands and feet; shortly afterwards they untied his feet, and took him to gaol; about the same time a number of Hauhaus ran along the beach towards the boat, all armed with rifles, revolvers, and two swords; they took the boat and boarded the vessel; there was a great disturbance on deck for about five minutes, when all was quiet. During the capture of the vessel others were employed on tho beach and in barracks, tying and handcuffing every one they met, and taking them to gaol. I saw ■ —Chudleigh, Esq., Messrs. Hood, Eeamish, Selwood, Baynor, Taylor, and Gason, put into gaol; and then they went in search of me for some time ; at last they came to Mrs. Alexander's and demanded me ; they retired some forty yards from the house for a few minutes, at which time I opened the door and walked out to meet six of them ; fortunately I met with a man named Tipiribi Tutekoe, about the only one I could depend upon; ho said he would not kill me if I walked quietly to gaol, which I did. I noticed that at 8 a.m. on the 4th instant I called the roll of prisoners as usual, and found them more correct that morning than I had for some time, also more willing to obey any orders given, also very anxious to get through their firewood fatigue, regardless of the rain, with the excuse that they could take oft' their clothing when done. E. Elliott, Chatham Islands, 11th July, 1868. Commissariat Issuer.