THE MURDER AT TE AROHA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 269, 15 February 1881, Page 2

THE MURDER AT TE AROHA.

Portlier Particulars. Grahamstown, Feb. 14. The body of the Maori murdered at Te Aroha was found by the side of the road leading to Paeroa. The head had been severed almost from the body by a fearful gash, and the gaping wound was a terrible spectacle. The skull was almost battered in, and there ware several deep cuts on the face and neck, apparently inflicted by some jagged instrument. man was named Himiona (Simpn), and was a member of the Ngatikoi tribe. There are some doubts as. to .iiinfractures on the skull were caused, some people alleging that they tfereljaiieiSfl a conical stone which was found close by deceased, covered with gore, while, other* are of opinion that the wounds were * caused by a tomahawk. Fromthe''faot of the fern being trampled it would seem that a struggle had taken place, 'and the murdered man (who was probably un- x | armed) fought hard for his life. Himiona’* , > coat and hat were found in the middle of the road, also an amber mouthpiece, fwith a silver ferule attached, and a white handkerchief spotted with blood. The pockets of the deceased’s, trousers were ; turned inside out, the motive of the " murderer having been robbery. , The police later in the day found at the tent of a man named Procoffy, a native pf ... , Finland, some newly-washed cJoshes still wet, with stains on them, which are believed to belong to Procoffy. He had been quarrelling with the murdered-rnan on the previous night, hence suspicion falls upon him. On being charged with the murder the accused replied, “ I‘don’t know anything about it. I did not do it.” He appeared much excited when naked , i questions, but answered without any hesitation. Accused is a man of small proportions, and from his appearance il*. : : I not likely to have committed the crime. Ho has been working in the Sunbeam claim. The natives are greatly incensed- =5 A at the murder. On Saturday afternoon ~-,t. an inquest was held at Te AroLa; before (mu Mr. Kenrick, R.M. The evidence showed that deceased and the prisoner were not on friendly terms, and had quarrelled pp the day of the murder. - The tnedic*lf s testimony showed that the wound was made by a sharp instrument, which had A been drawn backwards and forwards across the throat of deceased. Some bruise* were also found on the prisoner. The medical man could not say if the stain 3. on.- tbe f clothes were blood until they were sUbt' jeeted to microscopical observation. After half an hour’s deliberation the’jury returned a verdict —“ That the deceased.

Himiona Hoara, was found foully ipufdercd by some person Jbr persons un- i. known.” The circumstantial details, nf the case are most suspicious. There is a feeling here that the enquiry has been brought to a too abrupt termination. Tho ■ prisoner was afterwards brought up before Mr Kenrick, charged with the wilful raur- ,; der of Himiona, and remanded to .' . Grahamstown for eight days. ! - ,l To-day. The police state that they have t _ tracing the mouthpiece of thd pipe -f6und : - I near the body of the native murdered, to _ the possession of the prisoner. ! ‘ ■ Threatening Attitude of the Natives. The Nghtaihako tribe, of which the. Native murdered at Te Aroha was a member, is now holding a tdngi over the body* and is very excited. The miners are coining in from all the outlying claims. The Natives declare they will have blood for blood. The Nghtaihako is the tribe . that commited the assault pn the istMfvey ; party 18 months ago. One man is' now missing, and a search party are out. His friends fear danger to • him from the natives.