NATIVE MURDER AT KAWHIA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1165, 7 November 1871, Page 3

NATIVE MURDER AT KAWHIA.

The Raglan correspondent of the Daily Southern Cross writes, under date 16th October :- i( A murder has lately been commit ted at Kawhia by Hone Kiwi, a chief of the Ngatimahnta, on a man of the The victim wax sup posed to have been a powerful wizard, and to have been instrumental in eausin the illness or death of several persons —among others, Tawhiao's wife; bence his shooting by Hone Kiwi. Another story is that deceased was a mighty ' poreware/va,' or prophet, and that he was in ihe habit, by his incantations, of drawing the Hauhan ladies into the bu>h after him. Jealousy may ha"e been the cause of the crime, but I think the former tale is the most pro bable one. "On the 16th we had a visit from some Hauhau notabilities. Hare and Tamakawe, chiefs of the Mgatimaniapoto, and Reihana, a nephew of old Hoie te Warn, of the Ngatiapakura. From their conversation th.y did not seem either anxious for, or sanguine of, the conclusion of peace. " The name of the man murdered at Kawhia is Parati. He was shot dead. Tawhiao's wife was maddened by his witcheries, but she has since recovered. I am told Parati was a chief of his tribe. If so, further bloodshed may cDue of the murder." The Alexandra correspondent of the same, journal supplies the following particulars : " A native has just arrived (Oct 30) from Kawhia, and brings the news that Topi (Toby), the native who acted as poJicem in for the friendlies at the late meeting at the Kuiti, has >hot another native named Parati. It appears Parati has for some time past acted as a prophet, and claimed to have supernatural powers, makutuing (bewitching) amongst the number. Several natives who have died lately he has boasted owed their deaths to him. Tawhiao's wife has for some time past been insane. Parati declared that, if she v. as given over entirely to his charge, by means of his god he would restore her to her senses-. She wa<s acccordiugly handed over to him, but it subsequently transpired that his powers in this case were assumed to cloak certain improper designs he had on the woman. The discovery caused a great deal of ill-will towards him, and only the fear the natives had of him and his atua saved him from punishment. While talking to Toby and boasting of his powers, Parati told him that, if he did not ] ; sten to his religion, and do as he said, Toby and his relatives would all die. Toby consider, i.l on this, and determined to sc.et rid of Parati and his atua at once. He accordingly shot him, to the great joy of all Kawhia. 1 '