WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 77, 22 June 1868, Page 149

WANGANUI.

MURDER IN’ THE PATEA DISTRICT. A SETTLER TOMAHAWKED. (From the Wanganui Times, -10th June.) Ouit Patea correspondent, under yesterday’s date, writes the following hurried sentences:— “Another foul murder has been committed by the Hauhaus in this district. The victim this time is old Sergeant Cahill, who had taken up his land and resided upon it, within the Ketemarae. Mf Booth and Captain Ross were out to-day in that direction, and have returned. They saw numbers of armed Hauhaus, who told them to go back to Patea. Just while writing I hear that Captain Cummins is going to march out to-night with all the men he can muster. Colonel MT>onnell is not here; lam told he is ou sick leave.

A mounted trooper is going to start for Wanganui. I will keep you advised of things as they turn up. There is only a very weak force here to meet any emergency. We are all anxious to see Colonel M*Donnell, but he is on leave. Things look ugly.”

Since the foregoing was in type, we have received reliable intelligence of a very unsatisfactory, report, which we trust may be without foundation; It is that the natives who murdered Cahill are acting under the instructions of the Maori King, in expelling Europeans from .their district;, At all events, they assert .that:: such is the case, but we must hear, further upon that subject before we credit it.

Before nobn yesterday Col. M‘Donnesll, although on a month’s . . leave, andwouldreachthere in a few hours; Whether a dread of the Pokaikai Commission will,deter

him from trying to put a stop to those foul : murders, remains to be seen. A.t all events, he cannot do much with the few men under his command, and the few settlers at Patea would be hardly sufficient to keep the camp during, the absence of the constabulary. . r (From the Evening Herald.) Colonel M'Donnell is probably by this time with the force that Captain Cummins has taken to Waihu. We believe it is his determination to do bis work thoroughly without regard to any interference that any civil offi cer whomsoever may attempt, and to accomplish a severe punishment on the murderers of Sergeant Cahill. He considers that a force of 200 men should be immediately enrolled to scour the district, and let measures now be thorough, in reality as well as in official orders.