BARBAROUS MURDER BY THE REBELS AT TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 165, 11 March 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

BARBAROUS MURDER BY THE REBELS AT TARANAKI.

[Prom the Daily Southern Cross, March 3.J By the schooner Abeona, which arrived in the Manukau last evening, we have received a copy of a second edition of the Taranaki Herald of Monday last, for which we are indebted to Captain Fairchild, of that vessel, it having been obligingly conveyed to us by Mr. Brewer, the Sub-Collector of Customs of Onehunga. The news, it will be seen, is most important and calamitous. Mr. G. Patterson, an old and respected settler, was barbarously multilated on Sunday last, by the Southern natives, within but a short distance of the town of New Plymouth. The particulars of this lamentable occurrence will be found below. Mr. Patterson was a settler of long standing, universally respected, and the proprietor of a large saw-mill. The occurrence is the more to be lamented from the fact that the perpetrators of the foul deed were able to make off without receiving the s punishment they deserved. The following is the account of the murder, as given by the Taranaki Herald :—

It is our most painful duty to record the death of an old and respected settler, who has been killed and barbarously mutilated by the natives with their usual atrocity. Great anxiety was caused in town yesterday, by the report that five settlers had been shot at by the Maories, and that Sir. G. Patterson was missing. It seems that they had been going along the Frankley-road, about ten o’clock on Sunday morning, to look for some strayed horses or cattle, and Sir. Patterson being on horseback w’as 200 or 300 yards ahead. When the other four got to a rise just by where Sir. Dingle’s house stood, they saw Mr. Patterson raise his hand to them as a signal, and immediately turn his horse and canter back, and at the same time they saw several Slaories beyond coming towards them. As they had only one gun among them, and had not seen any Slaories very near, they turned too and ran towards towm. And it was well they did or thenlives must have been sacrificed too, for they had already approached within fifty or sixty yards of an ambush, w-hich was lying on a little bank, overlooking the road. They had run but a few yards when they heard a volley and a fiendish yell close behind them, and looking round, could see nothing of Sir. Patterson, but instead some natives following them closely, and one of them (C. Hurlstone, who, having been ill lately, was weak and could not run w r ell) would certainly have been killed, if it had not been for the coolness and courage of William Bishop, who, by the use of his rifle, kept them oif, and enabled the party to reach town safely.

When the news reached town, Colonel Warre, having waited to collect a force, sent out parties in different directions consisting of the 57th, the Bushrangers, and volunteers for the occasion. But the first to arrive on the spot was a small party of settlers, ten in number, four of whom had been looking for cattle near Merton. They had their rifles with them, and hearing the firing, and well knowing what it meant, with most commendable courage they instantly set ofi in the direction they heard it in, so as to give help if possible. At Mr. Tatton’s place they fell in with six others coming from town, and, together went on to the scene of the tragedy. They found Mr. Patterson’s body lying on some logs beside the road, it presented a frightful spectacle. He had received 3 bullet wounds—one through the heart, and afterwards been frightfully mutilated about the face with the tomahawk, so that those who had known him well could scarcely recognize him. His hat and boots were taken off, and his revolver, which, of course, he had no ciiance of using. His horse, which was lying a little distance off, was shot in three or four places, and tomahawked as well. Of the various parties sent out, one (consisting of the 57th and No. 1 Bushrangers) went up the Frauklej -road ; and another up the Hurford-road, under Major Butler ; and a third (consisting of about thirty-five men of No. 2 Bushrangers), under Captain Atkinson, up Burton’s-road. When the advanced guard of the latter party reached the top of Burton’s hill the saw four or five Maories going up the hill on which the Chapel stands. Captain Atkinson sent a party to follow these, and took the rest right over the bushcovered ridge into Colesby’s clearing to cut them off. When the leading file got out ■ into the clearing they saw fifty or sixty natives below, just turning the corner to enter the bush about 300 yards off. They waited for a few more men to come up and then fired, hitting one, traces of whose blood were left along the track. The natives fired one or perhaps two shots, and then ran, throwing away kits and mats, so

that nothing more was seen of them, though their track, which was very devious, was followed to the Hurford road, where it came out some way above Moyle’s clearing, They are brave enough over defenceless men when they get them in power but dare not face half their number of armed men, though in the bush and when their assailants must cross a clearing to get at them. We hope the time is not far distant when this handful of cowardly butchers, who for a long time have been living within three miles of our outpost will be cleared out from Kaitake, and the same may be said of Manutahi and Mataitawa. We have no wish to advise what is imprudent, but if we have not men enough here we trust General Cameron will be able to spare us the requisite number before very long.

Mr. Patterson’s untimely death will be deeply felt by all the people of Taranaki. He was well known and respected by all, being thoroughly upright, and for energy, perseverance, and industry had not perhaps his equal in the place. He leaves a widow and a large family of young children. His funeral will take place to-morrow at two p.m. An inquest has been held, and a verdict returned of “ Wilful Murder” against certain natives unknown. We will give particulars on Saturday; As a strange commentary on the above, we may mention a report current among the friendly natives, that two or three days ago communication was held with the hostile natives at Manutahi (W. King’s people) inviting overtures of peace. The communication is said to be na te Kanara raua ko Parete, —from Colonel Warre and Mr. Parris ; but neither of these gentlemen is at all likely to take such a grave step on his own responsibility and we think the public would like to know whether it has been done by direction of the Government or on the suggestion of his Excellency alone. The story as told to us, is that a letter was sent warning the women and childien to leave Manutahi, as if an immediate assault were to be made, but at the same time the messenger said by word of mouth (korero ngutu atu) that if any of them wished to talk about making peace, they would come back with him and do so. We have called this a report, but we have it from men whose word we can rely on. Are we, indeed, reduced to such extremities, that we must ask the natives to ask for peace