MURDER OF REV. MR WHITELEY

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 575, 23 September 1869, Page 4

MURDER OF REV. MR WHITELEY

(From the SoutJiern Cross, 15th hist.) The following statement pf Ropata Kaihau, a native chief from Ohinemuri, was this day given to Mr Richard de Thierry, and kiudly furnished to us for publication :— t! Statement of Ropata K^ilirtii : I w#s at Tokangamutu a short time ago. I was sent for by Tawhiao, the Maori King. I saw there Te Kooti and his party, also tho Ngatinianiapotos. Te Kaokao was their fighting general. There was present at the same time Te Waitere, a young man who was brought up by the Rev. John Whiteley from childhood. Te Waitere is a relation of mine. I asked him how they came to kill our old father, Mr Whiteley. He said :. « I and 60 others, -with our leading chief, Te Kaokao, •were on our way to Pukearnhe.' Ho paid, 'Father, turn back, the sun is darkening upon you. Go back, father.' He replied, ' Why do you tell me to go back? I cannot; I must go on,' Te Waitere said again, ' Father, go back, fop yon will be killed.' Mr Whiteley replied, ' Very well, very well ; I will go back, but will return again to-mqrrow.' He asked Te Waitere if he knew who was his God. Waitpre said, 'Yes; at one time Jehovah was my God, but now Tawhiao is tfre God over us all, and he bids you go home.' Te Kaokao also called out, <Go back,' Mr Whitolqy then said, f Good-bye, I will return again to-morrow ;' and went away. Next morning he returned—rhe came back with throe others. Waitere stepped forward and said, 'Go back.' Therp was a white man with the Ngathnaniapoto called Jack, He said to the natives, * Shoot Whiteley ; he is the cause of all this trouble.' The natives said 'No. . Jack said, ' Well, I will,' and levelled his gun and shot Mr Whiteley. The natives then fired and killed the other two. Te Kaokao and Raihana were the cause of thp murders at Pnkearuhe. I had %n interview with all the Ngatimaniapotos, and also spoke to the man Jack at Tokangamutu. Jack was dressed like a native, with a mat round his waist and one over his shoulders, and ho had two cartouch boxes and a double-barrelled gun in his hands. Jack is now with Te Waitere at Makau. He had two white companions, but they have been allowed by Te Waitere to come into Auckland. The description of Jack is as follows : — Height about 5 feet 6 inches, swarthy complexion, little beard, and looks, you.ng."