THE MURDER BY THE HAUHAUS AT PATEA.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 13, 1 April 1867, Page 73

THE MURDER BY THE HAUHAUS AT PATEA.

' j (Wanganui Times, Marchl2.) of the Rev. Father Boland’s friends* ; still entertain a hope that he was.not the victim,-who was shot d6wn in cold blood by the Haubaus on ,the 4th inst., but we fear that the blood of another clergyman rests upon the heads of these murderers. The Rev. Father Pezant, of this town, has received a letter from the Rev. Father M‘Sweeney,' dated Patea Garrison, Bth March, 1860,, from which we have been permitted to take the following extract:—

“ News has been brought ip here by some friendly natives that/a white man was killed by the Maoris at Opu nake. He was accompanied by a half-caste Maori, whom they made a prisoner. The murdered man, who was. mounted, was made to dismount. When be perceived that the natives were-loading their guns he ran into the water up to his waist. They shot him there. The description which the friendly natives give of the man answers to that of Father Boland. I tear that he is the' victim. I warned him of the danger. My predictions are too often true. Let us hope, however, that he is not the victim.” Our readers will observe that the murder was committed on Monday, the 4th, and that the Rev. Father M‘Sweeney’s letter is dated on Friday the Bth. How comes it that from Monday to Friday inclusive no active measures appear to have been taken either for ihe recovery of the body or the of the murderers? How long will the colonists continue to. tolerate the wretched policy which from year to year and day to day perpetuates a sanguinary strife be tween both races ? Sir George Grey may consider his policy a very mercifuL one, but it results in ruin to both races. -We trust that some member in the House of Representatives will review that policy during the approaching session, and move a respect ful address to her Majesty for the removal of his Excellency from the colony.

WAtRARAPA We take the /following items of news from the Wairarapa Merciiry.

Native Outrage. —We learn from a letter of Mr Palmerston, one of Mr Dennan’s survey staff, that on Monday last, two natives named respectively E. Maniliera and Martine, came on to the Maramana block which he was. surveying, and enquired for Mr Dennan. On. being told he was at Greytown they gave Mr P. a letter for him, which Mr P: said he would give him on his arrival. Shortly after Martine said he should take away the theodolite, to which Mr P. objected, stating that he had nothing to do with the contract, and to wait until Mr Dennan arrived. He declined to do this. Mr P. then offered to carry the theodolite to the camp iu Mr Binwell’s paddock, and to go with him there. To this Martine would not listen, and having hold of the theodolite at the time he snatched it out of his hand, and threatened, to smash it to pieces, and Mr P.’s head too. After a further struggle Martine, who was on horseback, succeeded iu getting away with the theodolite, and. both he and his companion—after pulling down a flagpole which Mr Dennan had put up the day ' befofe—galloped off. On the following day Mr P. gave information of the outrage to the Resident Magistrate, .who promised’ tof, inquire into the case. . Mr P. trusts that he will

nave the protection of the law, and that as a British subject he will have dress for the outrage which has -been perpetrated.; that; since no^: withstanding; tha theodolite Has been .0.-5' J C-iii V.! -••••• ”, '

given up' to the police, ; he intends to try the; case in the, Besident’Magistrate’s Court. We may remark, with reference to this- case, that if‘the particulars had, been furnished to an Auckland or Wellington journal, they would have had a sensation heading in large capitals, and much declamation would have been wasted to little purpose., The fact is, the land on which the survey was being effected is claimed by Manihera, who says he has received rent for it for the last seventeen years, and that the natives who have employed Mr Dennan never before asserted any claim to it. It is a case for the Native Lands Court.