WAIAPU.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 707, 9 August 1869, Page 3

WAIAPU.

iff* bare received the following account of tosa outrage committed by a notorious ', t j ye named Hemi Tapeka, at Waiapu, the 28th ult. Our informant wo confer reliable. i n 0 the day in question Hemi Tapeka v e into the store of a settler named L or ge Rowland, no one being within but Maori woman with whom Rowland lived. } king some pi"ces of print outside the . uge he threw them on the ground. The ma n followed him, and, recovering one fthe pieces of print, ran into the hedroora with it- ne thief rushed in after her, and 8 engaged in a scuffle with the woman, Mn Rowland entered. He immediately [n prehended the state of affairs, and . e ized his loaded revolver, which lay close , band. Hemi, observing this, rushed on Copland, and begun wrestling with him puling this scuffle the revolver went otf, pounding the Maori thief through the jejliy P ari °f th° groin. Hemi, directly i e was wounded, ran off towards the pa — Ijout a mile from Rowland's house. Soon jfter, about, 20 Maoris of the same tribe /Vgatiporous), with loaded pieces, set off awards Rowland's house, with the inten lion of shooting liim. On the road they ff( .re met by the chief Morgan, who having jieard of the affair, was hurrying towards ,|,epnto stop any contemplated outrage upon Rowland. He ordered the natives jj return to the pa, which they reluctantly did. Rowland was subsequently brought before Mr J. 11. Campbell, R.M., and committed for trial for shooting Hemi, tf itli intent, &c. Hemi Tapeka is, we are informed, a felon illegally at large Nine months ago ) ie was sentenced by the RM. to nine ponths' imprisonment fur stealing from J. (Jreeu's store. However, whilst being taken to the yessel which was to convey llini to Auckland, he escaped, and eouui not be recaptured, as the natives would not assist. Kowland is to be tried in ftupier, and may be expected here by the Deit trip of the Murewai. He has two houses at Waiapu, which the Natives have taken possession of. The woman has gon>' to life at a neighbor's. We do not, of course, vouch for the cor-i K'Ctness of the above particulars, but give them exactly as furnished to us.