TAUPO.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 33, 12 August 1867, Page 200

TAUPO.

PROBABILITY OF NO MURDERS BEING

COMMITTED.

IMMENSE i GATHERING OF HAU-HATJS

NEAR THE LAKE. From the: neighbourhood ’ of Lake Taupo we have news, up to Tuesday, 6th inst,, both by means of some returned gold prospectors, and from a native source. We learn that a large runanga or conference of rebel natives was about to be held—the objects of which, though not positively known, is supposed to be for the discussiou of passing events, and for laying down a rule of procedure on the part of the fanatics, —to which natives were assembling in large numbers from all directions, and which meeting was likely to be fraught with results of great importance. The runanga proper had not commenced up to the above date, but extensive preparations were being made for it. " As to the reported murder of four Europeans and , four Maoris at Te Runanga, we are in a position to state that there is at least a probability that no murders have been committed, —Mr Firth’s cattle having been seen some 10 miles beyond Te Runanga, where it was said they were stopped and the reported murders committed. We do not know that the Europeans have been seen, but cannot learn that there was other grounds for the report of the murders than a delay in the arrival of the party at Maketu, which might easily be accounted for, but which the excitable imaginations of the native people readily construed into a proof of their destruction. We trust it will be found that the party have all arrived safely at their destination.