BYGONE DAYS IN TARANAKI.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XIII, 24 September 1898, Page 301

BYGONE DAYS IN TARANAKI.

ADVENTURES OF A MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH. (To Hie Editor N.Z. ‘Graphic.') Sir, I read with some interest Mr Seffern’s narrative of the above. because I believe I recognise an old acquaintance in the man Hori. Though, if he is the man I knew, and I think he must. lie, some of the details of the drama, as narrated by Mr Seffern, are not quite correct. In the very early days of the Thames goldfields I had a man—a half-caste Maori working with me. a fine tall well-built and altogether a tine-looking fellow. This was tile man who murdered Dr. Hope and nearly succeeded in murdering a lieutenant; the name of the latter 1 forget. This half-caste was befriended by Mr liobt. Graham liecause of valuable assistance lie (Hori) gave at. the wreck of, I think, the steamer ‘Lord Worsly,’ near the White Cliffs; and it was Mr Graham who was instrumental in preventing the sentence of death being carried out. The man was n splendid worker, spoke English well, but his leanings were toward the Maori part of his nature. I had heard something of his history, and after we became intimately aequainted with eaelt other I succeeded in getting him to tell it, so far as it related to the murder, and his subsequent capture. Hori. though I think we called him Harry, was playing a double game. He was employed at the British camp and was supposed to mix witli the hostile Maoris for the purpose of leiarning their strength and plans for the benefit of our soldiers. But instead of that he was acting in a directly opposite manner. 1 forget the details of Dr. Hope's murder, but I distinctly remember what induced Hori to do it—that was the Doctor’s wateli and chain. Hori told me that he had often noticed these on tlie Doctor, and one day he asked to have a look at the watch, when the Doctor put it into his hand. At that moment Hori told me he made up his mind to have both the watch and chain, and the first opportunity he committed the murder and robbery, it. was thought to have been done by the Maoris at the time. Some time sifter this sin officer was riding I believe by himself up a road cut in the side of a hill not far from eamp. Hori and a few Maoris were lying' in ambush close by; the Maoris tired, wounding the horse, which fell with its rider; at the same moment Hori sprang from the hank above with the intention of putting an end to Ihe offeer, but fortunately in jumping was injured so much that, lie could not reach the officer. The firing had been heard in camp and in si few minutes a number of soldiers were on tile spot; and Hori told me the only tiling' that saved him from being bayoneflcd was that so many were trying to do it at once while he lav on the ground that they were in one another's way, which delayed file matter till the otfieer called them off. When searched, to their surprise Dr. Hope's watch stud chain and another trinket were found on him, and lie subsequently confessed Io being- the murderer. The above is exactly ns told me by Hori.— I am. etc., I. Hopkins.