The Maori Murderer's Defence.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 187, 10 June 1873, Page 7

The Maori Murderer's Defence.

A correspondent of the Auckland Herald sends the following translation of a letter which has been received from Pnkurutu, the native who murdered Sullivan:—"o Friends, I have seen your writings, wherein you have condemned me without hearing my defence. Now hearken ; I will tell you my side of the story; A piece of land belongs to me near where I am writing this letter, which has been taken by the Pakeha and occupied by him without my permission. 1 have, during years past, continually warned the Pakehas to desist from meddling with my land, but they have shut their ears to my warnings and taken no notice of them. I adopted other measures. I killed the cattle and sheep on my land. I burned the whare used by the Pakeha living on my land. This was not enough. I forcibly drove off the ditchers, but still my land was occupied and claimed by the Pakeha. The Pakeha did not attempt to punish me for my deeds. The last resource was to kill any Pakeha found on my land. You know I did so. I did what was right according to Maori custom and law. the law of the Pakeha does not extend beyond the confiscated land boundary ; it is not known on this side. Mackay is preparing a force to catch me. Let him come. I am ready to be taken at any time. Do not listen to those who say Tawhiao will give me up to the Government. The King natives will all fight for me and with me. If Tam beaten, you will get my land, which is not worth fighting for. Rewi, and some other chiefs and old men, will become Queenites, to save their land. The young men will join me and fight the Pakehas. I see the Europeans building pas. I see their scouts and patrols going about night and day. I see the Pakehas assembled in your villages watching for my coming to kill another European. But I will not go off my own land to fight. Tell the Europeans not to leave their homes on account of me. Perhaps you will say that this work of mine i 3 not true work ; but remember what 1 did five years ago. Some property was stolen from a European at Orakau. T caused all the stolen property to be returned, and a horse to be given in payment for the wrongdoing. I was then called Mohi. Enough. —From your friend, Pukurutu."