Canterbury.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 11, 18 March 1867, Page 63

Canterbury.

THE CANTERBURY MURDER.

The Press of the 23rd ult., says, speaking of the murder near Porter’s Pass : —“ Further information has reached ns in reference to the murder committed on Mr. Campbell’s run. It appears that two men, the one named Kerr, and the other only known by the name of Jim, travelled in company with the fifteen • Chinese who lately landed in Hokitika, to go overland: to Otago.: They all travelled in com-

pany as far as Cass’s hotel,"where •.. Kerr obtained work and - remained, J) Jim proceeding with the Chinese, and ' ' was seen in their company between Craigieburn and the scene of the murder ; after which no European was seen in their company until their arrival at the hotel on this side of Porter’s Pass. A European was afterwards seen in their company, but he does not answer to the description given of Jim. On the Christchurch side another European was in their company who nearly corresponded, but liis dress was different from Jim’s. The Chinese turned off at Grainger’s hotel, near the Racecourse hill, but oa their arrival at Davis’s station, where they camped, no European was in their company. From Davis’s they went to the Selwyn, and camped afc Mr. Westenra’s station, still unacompanied by any European. Kerr stated to the police that Jim wore clothes similar to those found buried near the spot where the body was found. Some Chinese coins were found in the hut. A billy und part of a canteen were also found buried near the spot, and Kerr states that whilst in the company of the Chinese, several similar ones were in their possession. A small bottle was also found iu the hut, which Kerr says is similar to the one carried by Jim when he left in company with the Chinese, in which he carried oil for the purpose of applying to his feet. Some other small articles were found near the place where the body was found buried, which he states that he never saw Jim carry. The hat worn by Jim has not been found. He bad also a blue cloth coat and vest, which have not yet been found. A red checked shirt and a cotton checked shirt, and a hat, which Kerr has not yet seen, were found rolled up together a short distance from the hut. The Chinese camped about half a mile on the Castle-hill side of the hut where the murder is supposed to -have been committed. Here the police found a pair of nearly new dungaree Chinese trousers, and two very old Chinese jumpers. Kerr describes Jim as being about thirty years of age, five feet seven or eight inches in height, light hair, small thin, sandy whiskers and. moustache, and some peculiarity in one of his teeth. This description exactly corresponds with that of the’ murdered man. The deceased wore a pair of boots cut across the toes when he parted from Kerr. He obtained instruction from him as to a short cut by turning off by Lake Lyndon to the Rakaia. The Chinese did not take this short cut, but went round by Porter’s Pass. Two of the Chinese

spoke English very fluently, and one of them, who had been engaged as n cook on the West Coast, was dressed in English clothes. The tomahawk with which the murder was committed was found near the body, and Kerr states that it is similar to one in Jim’s possession. They were all short o money, and were endeavouring to dispose of all their small articles as they went along. The Chinese crossed the

Waitangi on the 16th inst., and the police of the province of Otago have been communicated, with. Every inquiry has been made, but up to the present nothing has been heard of Jim. It is possible that he parted company with the Chinese and took the shorter route, or came on to Christchurch. In one of ihe legs of the trousers was found a portion of one of the Christchurch papers.”