MR MACKAY’S REPORT ON THE WAIKATO MURDER.

Evening Star, Issue 3284, 29 August 1873, Page 3

MR MACKAY’S REPORT ON THE WAIKATO MURDER.

A report from Mr James Maekay, jnm, relative to the circumstances connected with the murder in the W aikato, has been laid on the table of the House. Mr Mackay, after going minutely into the whole affair, winds up his report as follows ; “With your permission, I will confine this portion of my report to general questions. I am of opinion that the murder committed by Purukutu ami his associates was not done with the unanimous consent of Tawhiao and the King party, and is looked on by the majority of the Hauhaus with disfavor. A few fanatics like Nukuwhenua and Kuru are willing at any time to commit the same crime as Purukutu. Purukutu and his party doubtless murdered Sullivan for two reasons, one private and one public. The first, because it was annoying to them to see Mr Walker’s cattle grazing on land which they were partially occupying themselves, ana which had been granted through the Native Lands Court to members of their tribe, who were not in occupation of any part of it, and who drew rents for the depasturage of stock on it. A supposed private wrong led Purukutu to uphold what he considered to be Tawhiao’s so-called law against the alienation of land by lease or sale. This is the political or public reason for his act. Manuhiri, in a conversation with Paoro Tuahere, at Tokangamutu, on the 11th May last, distinctly states : —‘ It is said that Tawhiao was the cause of Purukutu’s act. Purukutu committed murder for his own land. Another man kills a European for his own laud.’ It may be asked if Sullivan was not killed in consequence of instructions from the King ; how is it that he has now found an asylum at Tokangamutu? In my opinion, Purukutu went unwillingly to Tokangamutu, as numerous messengers were despatched to him before he would comply with Tawhiao’s request. I believe he was sent for to keep him from doing further mischief, and to prevent him from precipitating a war with the Europeans, when the Hauhau party were not ready to hunt. Manuhiri, in a recent conversation with Nini Kukutai, at Tokangamutu, said :— ‘ Purukutu will nob be allowed to return to Maungatautari. If he goes, it will be on his own responsibility, and not on Tawbiao’s, because Tawhiao does not want to light. ’ Tawhiao knows that if he delivers Purukutu over to tlie Europeans, a large aumlxr of his people will immediately secede from him, and his power and influence become a thing of the past. The Natives are all aware that Mohi Hotuhotu Purukutu is, according to the Maori custom, one of the owners of the Pukukura block ; that the issue of the Crown Grant, and subsequent leasing and occupation of the laud by Mr Walker, has helped to deprive him of h’s rights ; that Tawhiao and his rnnanga laid down what they consider to be a law, forbidding the sale or lease of lauds outside the confiscated boundary, for which death was to be inflicted on any European concerned, or any Kupapa (friendly) Native, It is true Tawhiao had subsequently said, ‘That the sword should be sheathed.’ Purukutu did not recognise that this repealed tho penal clause of the first so-called law, and by a misinterpretation he killed Sullivan, it is my firm conviction that, as seen from the Hauhau point of view, the above are the reasons why Purukutu is not handed over to be tried by the law in answer to the demands made by the Government. I wish it most distinctly to be understood that the above remarks are not my ideas of what is right or wrong in the matter, but merely an exposition of the feelings of the Hauhau party, arrived at by me after much observation and reflection. 1 paid two visits toTe Waotu, to the Ngatiraukawa tribe, and also had an interview' with Kewi Maniapoto at Te Kopua. I believe I can safely say that the Ngatimaniapoto and Ngatirankawa tribes will not join in any hostile movement against the Luropeaus arising out of Purukutu’s proceeding, in considering the question of defence of this district, it must always be borne in mind that the Waikato and Ngatihaua tribes have no land of their own at Tokangamutu, and that some sub-divisions (hapus) of Waikato lost the whole of their lauds by confiscation. These are the men who smart under the feeling that they are mere sojourners on the lands of Kewi'and Ngatimaniapoto, and it is against them that the Government of the country must at all times be upon their guard, and keep the frontier in good defensive order, and there will be numerous repetitious of acts similar to that of Mohi Hotuhotu Purukutu. The alarm and excitement which at first prevailed in tho Waikato amongst the frontier settlers after the murder of the unfortunate Timothy Sullivan has subsided, and they are now quietly following their usual avocations with a feeling of security not before experienced iu this district. It is, however, a very prevalent opinion in their minds that the murderers of Timothy (Sullivan should bo brought to jus it ice, which they consider would prevent the recurrence of similar outrages.”