TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 226, 13 February 1865, Page 3

TARANAKI.

(From tlie Tjra,wld Xeics.) Homictuf..— On Monday a melancholy affair took place af Mataitawa, of which the following is, wo believe. a correct account. In No. 0 Company of the Military Settlers were two men named I-'iancis Johnston and John Harris, and it is asserted, and wo understand was proved before the Coroner on inquiry, that as the former was passing t oo tent in which the latter was located, Harris deliberately took a rifle and shot Johnston with fatal effect, the hail passing through his head and killing him on the snot. The' Coroner’s Jury returned a verdict of “ Wilful murder ” against the accused, and lie was committed for trial under the Coroner’s warranty No inquiry has yet taken place before the bench, but will doubtless bo early entered upon. The victim of this dreadful atrocity was but 36 years of age, and unhappily leaves behind him a wife and six young children. John Harris is described as being about 25 years of age. The deceased was buried yesterday with military honors in the cemetery at the Heiuu.

Submission or the Natives Sooth. —The endeavors made to induce the natives south of Tataraimakato come in under the Governor’s proclamation have been to a certain extent successful, and about the end of last week some sixty souls gave in their submission, consisting of thirty men, amongst whom was the notorious Minarapa, and two others suspected of the murder of two boys at Omata, the rest being Women and children. The three suspected of murder have not, we understand, been brought in under the proclamation, but have made unconditional surrender, and will be tried according to law. This will go far to facilitate the operations south now in progress, but a quite march of the ground beyond is scarcely to be expected.