THE EAST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 298, 17 August 1865, Page 2

THE EAST COAST.

MURDER OF MR JAMES FULLOON AND THE CAPTAIN AND CREW OF THERATE.

YITBTHEE PAETXCHLAES. [From the Daily Southern Cross, 9th August.] The news received here until within the last few days has been nothing, scarcely any event worth mentioning, hut latterly startling occurrences have taken place in the Bay of Plenty. Some short time since a vessel called the Mumvviwi, belonging to Maketu, and having ott board ten natives, viz., seven men and three women of the Arawa tribe, left Maketu to proceed to Wakataue, in search of food, the parties in question having friends in that neighbourhood. On. the morning of the 21st ult., the Kate, cutter, chartered by Mr A. B. White, having on board four Europeans, Mr James Eulloon, Government interpreter, and a. half-caste named Alexander Campbell, left Maketu for Wakataue. Mr Commissioner Smith strongly advised Mr White not to proceed to Wakatane, but he assured Mr Smith that it was quite safe for him to go there. Nothing more was heard ot either the Mrruwivvi or' the Kate until last Sunday evening, the30th ult., when a canoe arrived here containing live Of the natives who left in the Manuviwi, the remainder (live) being detained as prisoners at Wakataue. They had. all been prisoners, hut these five had managed to escape overland to Ohiwa, where? they obtained a canoe from Apanui, and started by sea for Maketu. From those the startling intelligence was received of the burning of the Kate and the murder of Mr I ulloou and the three Europeans on board, but that the lives of A. B. White and Alex. Campbell had been spared. The natives stated that the reason they were taken prisoners was because “ they (the Ngatiawa}) had stopped the road,” and that they would have been killed but for the araival of tiie Kate, This news was certainly startling, but still I hesitated to report it, as I hud been so frequently deceived in Maori information, apparently as correct as this. However, on Wednesday last the whole affair was elucidated by the arrival overland of Mr A. B, White, accompanied by a Fiji native and nis native (Maori) wife. He corroborated the fact of the burning of the Kate, and the horrible massacre of the European crew and of Mr Eulloon. It appears, from Mr White’s statement, that on the evening of the day they left Maketu, viz., the 21st ultimo, they arrived off Wakataue, where they were becalmed. The vessel’s boat was despatched on shore to see if it was safe to enter the river. The following morning, tiie --ml, the boat returned, bringing, besides the parties who went on shore in it, a son of Mr White’s, named George, about twelve years of age. The information the boat brought was to the effect that it would be advisable to stand out to sea, as the natives were ail up in arms, having a quarrel amongst themselves relative to tiie Maketu schooner Maruwivvi. Before the vessel could get any distance out to sea, owing to the light breeze, a whaleboat came off from the river, containing twelve natives, all of whom were armed; they came alongside, and demanded who were ou board, Mr White’s native, Tira, sang out there was A. B. White, Mr Eulloon, three European sailors, aud a .half-caste (Alex. Campbell}. Mr Eulloon .was on deck with a loaded lifle, which ho showed to the natives, and asked them whether t; ey were coming off to murdey them. The natives replied they were sent by the Hau-haus. Eulloon, with a contemptuous gesture, defied them. The whaleboat then returned to the shore, and the occupants of it told the prophet Horomona (Solomon), a native of Taranaki, what had taken place. He then told the natives to return again to the vessel, aud shoot all on hoard. . After the whaleboat left the first time, Mr Eulloon went below, apd also Mr White, The first intimation that Mr White bad of

the design of the natives was hearing shots fired on deck. He then said to Mr Fulloon, “ My God, Fulloon, they are being murdered on deck I” Immediately after this a shot came through the cabin and wounded Mr Fulloon in the hand. Mr White then went on deck, leaving Mr Fulloon wounded below. He then saw the three Europeans: Pringle, the master; a seaman named Ned; and another man Robinson, all lying dead on the deck. One of the natives told him that they had snapped a piece at him twice, but that it had missed fire: they therefore concluded . that he was protected by the God of the Pai Marire, and ordered him to get into the boat with his son and Alexander Campbell. ’The natives afterwards lauded them at a place called Otumaura, a distance of about four miles to the northward of Wakatane. The pa of Otumaura is situated about a mile from the beach. Tt belongs to a subdivision of the Ngatiwa; it is not yet finished, but they are busy at work at it to protect themselves against the Whanauapanui, Ngaiterangi, and Uiwhera, who are determined to have payment for the death of Fulloon, who was connected with those tribes. The pa is situated on the banks of a river, with a swamp in the rear; troops could be lauded on the beach at night time, and canoes could be found to transport the troops across the river. The pa could be surrounded and ■taken in the morning. The only means they could have of escaping would be by the river; there are not more than forty or fifty men there. The natives belong to the Patutahi tiihe, and are the parlies who committed the murdered on the Kate. Mr White remained at this pa for three 4ays, where it appears that he was treated very well, being supposed to he under the protection of the Pai Marires. He theu escaped, and, with die aid of this Fiji Kuni, ana his wife, made his way to Makelu, after ha\ iug SLllered innumerable hardships. As Mr White is proceeding to Auckland he will he aide to give lurther information ou the subject.

The Arawas talk abuut proceeding or Monday to endeavour to arrest the murderers, warrants Laving, I believe, been issued for their apprehension.