THE EAST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIV, Issue 629, 12 November 1868, Page 2

THE EAST COAST.

JiJRJEI IVAL OP THE SCHOONER TAWERA TEOil POVERTY BAY APPALLING NEWS. k MASSACRE OF mEN, WQmm, AIIO €r£ilOP.£ll. Houses Sacked and Burnt. Yesterday afternoon, shortly before 6 o’clock, much concern was caused by the appearance of the Tawera, with the ensign half-mast. The public, however, were far from prepared for the dreadlul news that awaited them, and which spread like wild fire through the town, that the settlement of Matewhero at Poverty Bay had been sucked and burnt, and about thirty of the inhabitants massacred in cold blood, with the most atrocious cruelty. The Tawera brought a number of women and children, who had escaped from the district, and from some of whom, in the absence of any official information, we have gained authentic particulars of the massacre.

Matewhero, the scene of the murders, is a settlement about seven miles from Turangauui; where there is a Maori pa, and a redoubt in course of construction, near which we understand, is the residence of Major Biggs. The information we publish is principally from a youth who resided at Turanganui, and though not at Matewhero at the time of the massacre was afterwards on the ground, and had every opportunity of obtaining the details. He states that he was awakened at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, the 10th instant, by the sound of firing in the direction of Matewhero, and at once with his brothers, arose and gave the alarm. Nothing of course was known of the nature of the attack; but a party was

formed who armed themselves in rea* diness to start for the spot. Before long those who had escaped began to arrive from Matewhero, and after them some women and others from Waerangahika, who reported that the Maoris had left Matawhero, that two | houses had been burnt, and that the I bodies of several other murdered setI tiers bad been seen. About noon the

armed party started. They found very few bodies near the houses, the great number being in the flax on the flat, where they had been shot down in the attempt to escape.

The natives at the pa, who had lost several of their fellows, staled that the attack Lad been made at 3 a.m., and that the first victims were two of Mr Dodd’s men, who'were on his run. A third made his escape, but Mr Dodd and his partner, Mr Peppard, were also murdered.

The party found the bodies of Mr Cadle and three native boys outside his store ; Mr Blair, his partner, escaped. Major Biggs was found lying dead outside his house, in his shirt; his wife was lying inside, dead, and stripped of all her clothing ; her little infant, its brains dashed out, lying on her breast. A youth named Charles James, employed by Major Biggs, stated that on the house being attacked the Major came out in his shirt, and was in the act of loading his rifle when he was shot. He then called to his wife—“ I’m dying ; run to the flax.” The unfortunate lady, however, would not leave her husband; and in any case escape would have been impossible, the house being quite surrounded. The lad broke through between the rebels, and escaped to Turanganui. One of the most horrible murders was that of Mr Mann, military settler, and his wife. Mr *Vin w.r found shot in lushed; Mi, W: been dragged out of door- . ■ to death, fire being applied to Ler clothes, and her infant son was shot. Soon afterwards two little boys named James (brothers of the one already mentioned) who, with their mother, escaped along the liver bank, saw a number of pigs devouring one of the bodies. Another harrowing case was that of three of a family named Goldsmith ; a little hoy and an elder brother and sister. The two elder children could not remove the youngest.

who clung tenaciously to the house. The daughter, who mounted a horse, was shot down in riding away ; but the brother managed to effect his escape. The Maoris then set the house on fire, and the James’ children already alluded to heard the little boy inside calling piteously for his sister “Maria.” Captain Wilson’s house had also been burnt down, and there is no doubt whatever that himself, his wife, and four children, were burnt in in it. The body of a servant known as “ Jacky Pumpkin,” who had been billed and barbarously mutilated before the house was burnt, was found in the ruins. On the flat being searched numerous other bodies were found. Mrs M‘Culloch (whose husband is among the missing), in trying to escape with her son, a little niece, and an infant daughter, was shot down, th = niece also shot, and the infant horribly mutilated. The little boy contrived ; to escape, and arrived at the township crying bitterly. Mr Benson, his wife | (sister to Mrs M'Culloch) and child (a I daughter) are also missing. Two unmarried sisters of the same family, with their father and mother escaped from the assassins, and left for Auck«l,„ r.t i-u------iauu ixi vuc vtitcio ui killed are Mrs Walsh, her infant, found in a dying state on the breast of its dead mother (her husband missing) ; Robert Noonan, wife, and infant child

unit in their house; and William Brown, of Makoraka. These particulars of the massacre are all that we have yet obtained, and may, we believe, be relied on. From Captain Kennedy of the Tavern, we learn that he left Poverty Bay for Auckland at 3 a.m, on Tuesday (just after the attack bad begun) and that after leaving he saw the| flames from a burning house—no doubt Captain Wilson’s—at Matewhero. The Success bad already left for Auckland. About 2 p.m., being then about 12 miles distance, a boat sent by Captain Read reached them, bringing the news of the outbreak, and both vessels put back. The Success left with some who wished to go to Auckland ; and the Tawera leu with others for Napier. On her way cown the Tawera met the Lord Ashley for Auckland, and communicated the news, besides putting on board the following passengers for Auckland: —Mrs Bloomfield, sister, and three children; Mrs Ross and child. Brought

■ a to Napier:—Mrs W. Parker, family and servant; Daniel Munn (who was shot in the shoulder by a Maori named Ohara, whom he had known in Napier, and who was dressed in Mr Cadle’s clothes), David, and Archibald Munn, Mrs R. Urea, Mrs Skipworth and child, Mrs Mills and 2 children.

.. u■: iucker, child, and servant, Capt. L ; i, 3 children named Polgrain.

On the arrival of the Tawera Daniel Munn, the wounded man, was at once brought ashore, and conveyed to the Provincial Hospital.

When the Tawera left, eight houses were observed to be in flames. The rebels are said to be finely dressed iu new clothes stolen from the stores. Captain Westrurm had formed a com- ! 7 - ’ district to ■ -U, v.- doubt before Hs t.me ugiiting has taken place. A party was to leave Turauganui yesterday, to inter the bodies. E The excitement in Nipier since re-1 ccipt of the awful news has been off a very painful description, most of the murdered people having friends or relations here. Many of those who have providentially escaped with their lives are utterly ruined ; their wool, their sheep, and their beautiful orchards, with ripening fruit, unequalled in New Zealand, are deserted, and the splendid district of Poverty Bay will, no doubt, in a few short weeks be utterly devastated.