TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 662, 8 March 1869, Page 3

TARANAKI.

A Resident with the Rebels.— The European James Murphy, who had been eh a rued before the Resident Magistrate with complicity with the rebels, and being concerned with the White Cliffs massacre, having lived with them ten months, lias been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment under the "Vagrant Act, as a rogue and vagabond. Threatening- Language by a Maori. —A settler named Charles Waller brought up a Maori named Arora for the abovtoffence. Arora had asked when he was going on his land, and threatened to shoot him if he saw him there. An alibi was attempted to bo shown, but the evidence was contradictory. The case was dismissed by the magistrates.

The White Cuff Massacre. — Inquest on the Bodies —The enquiry hav* ing extended over several days, was concluded on Wednesday, 24th ult., resulting in the following verdict: —“ That the said John Whitely and others, on the 13th day of February, at the White Cliffs, in the Province of Taranaki, in the district aforesaid, were cruelly and barbarouslv murdered by gunshot and tomahawk wounds inflicted by certain persons of the native race to the juror’s unknown, of which said wounds the said John Whiteh and others did languish and die.” Attached to the verdict was the following rider : —“ That the jury are of opinion that the late loss of life at the White Cliffs may he attributed to the Government not tak ing immediate steps for the protection of the settlers on receiving the information from Dr. Pollen as to the intention of the Ngatimaniapoto natives. The authorities are also to blame in that they induced the settlers to remain on the block by a pro mise of sufficient warning in case of danger, and which they did not carry out.”