NORTHERN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1993, 24 September 1869, Page 2

NORTHERN NEWS.

The chief Rapata Kaihau, who has recently visited Tawhiao, has supplied ns with some information respecting the feeling of Tawhiao with respect to Ohincmuri. Rapata says : “Tawhiao has stated that h:s word to all the tribes is that they must Jay down the sword until 1870, in order to give the Natives time to see what the Europeans intend to do with regard to Ohincmuri. If the Europeans rush Ohincmuri, the King will then consider that he has a take (cause) for revenging the death of his relatives at Kangiriri. ” Rapata further says that Tawhiao has proclaimed that “ the right hand must keep to the right hand, and the left to the left; ” “ the right ” signifying the Natives, and “the left ’ the Europeans. If the right should interfere with (he left, the latter are to combine together and make an effort to crush the right We give this story simply as we have received it, and do not vouch for its correctness,—Southern Cross. On Monday, at the Criminal Sessions, Wellington, before Mr Justice Johnson, Hetariki Te Oika, Rewi Tamanui Toti Toti, and Matcnc Te Karo, against whom true bills had been found, were placed in the dock charged with high treason. Matene To Karo is a young man of about twenty yc ‘.rs of age. He is very dark in complexion, and has no hair on his face. The whole cast of his features is of the negro rather than the Maori type. The general expression of the f ice is rather mild and intelligent, but, despite thick lips, there is au expression of lirmne<s about the lips which is not usually observed in the face of such a young man, Rewi Tamanui Toti Toti is a fine-look, ing, middle-aged man, of a very light color, and wearing light whiskers and moustache. He is decidedly the most pleasant-lookiug and intelligent of the three. Neither of the above two prisoners are at all tatooed. Hetariki Te Oika is an old man, apparently between fi ty and sixty ye rs of age. His close cut bair is streaked wi;h grey, and a most cm 1 light gleams iii bis small, twinkling ferret like eyes. His brow is low and receding, and the whole expression of his thickly tattooed face is villainous in the extreme, and at times almost lien lish in its malignity. Mr Baker was swo.n interpreter, and MrYoungsn oruiuterproter to watch the proceedings on behalf of the prisoners. The Attorney-General and Mr Izard prosecuted, and Mr Alim defended the prisoners. Mr Travers was also to have held a brief for the defence, bin was unable to appear. The indictment, which extended to great length, was read in Maori and English, and the prisoners being asked separately, pleaded not guilty, saying that the crime was Te Kooti’s. The jury, after several challenges, were empanncled at 11 a.m. precisely. The against the prisoners was op.ned b} r Mr Izard, who was followed by the At-torney-General, and the prisoners were indicted for levying war against the Crown. The (rial concluded yesterday, when the jury returned a verdict of guilty against a 1 the prisoners. The Jud:e passed sentence on them in (he usual fonij, namely, that they were to be hanged, drawn, and'quartered ; but gave them the comfortable assiir r,nic‘ that they were only to be hanged, We are indebted to the Emiing Post for the greater portion of our information on this subject.