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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 96, 26 August 1852, Page 3

To the Editor of the "Maori Messenger." Sir,—Your paper is the medium of communication with reference to all matters which concern the Natives, whether good or evil. When statements are committed to paper they are likely to he correct, but the tongue misrepresents matters; I there ore send you this letter in order that you may print it, in your paper. My recent communication to you treated of things that are good; my present speech to you is an evil one, it is concerning the crime of murder. This is the Hist complaint of this kind forwarded from this river:—the people however should not he considered as countenancing the crime, the murderer alone is the guilty parly—his name isTcWheinga. This name"is that of a Chief, but the Chieftainship of this old man is at an end, for how can a murderer retain his dignity? You know that among the Europeans, however noble a man may be who commits murder, his rank is not taken into consideration, but be is al once taken to prison that be may he judged according to the law. The name of the murdered girl is He. The persons who resided at this place were To Wheinga and his wife, Te Mahimahi, the girl in question, and a youth a nephew of Te YVheinga's and son of Aperahania who died last summer. This murder look place on the night of Tuesday the 22nd of July; the weapon used was an axe. The Epistle of St James, 1 chapter, lf> verse is applicable! in this case. Wlion the girl was young TeWheinga allowed her to bold forbidden intercourse with Europeans from a feeling of covelonsness to possess some English articles. When will the Native Chiefs consider, that ibis is enslaving and degrading their daughters in thus selling lliem for money, as they would sell horse's, pigs, and other things I Evil would be natural to this girl, or this girl would .shamelessly commit evil, having been instructed" in il during her youth. Te Wheinga look Ihe girl to be his wife; she continued her evil course, and disease ensued which she imparted to Te Wheinga; this encouraged his heart, not considering (hat be was suffering the punishment of his evil deeds. This rage of Ids heart lie lei loose upon the girl, he gol up in the night with an axe in his hand and killed his victim. Il is not known where the body is; Te Wheinga will not disclose the place, ile has perhaps sunk it in tliedepih of the river thinking thai il will not be discovered. Cain ihe father of murderers, had the same thoughts in his mind, but the eye of God was looking upon him. On Ihe morning of Wednesday Tirohia the wife of the Chief Tarore, called al Te Waieruhe. Te Wheinga denied Ihe charge," be said that Ke had run oIV to the woods. Tirohia suspected him and said, " You have killed her," but Ihe old man persisted in saying thai she had run oil'. Mahiinalii then addrcssingTo Wheinga said, " O whe Tirohia knows (he fact, she has seen the brains of He lying here." The man then confessed and said, " Yes I have killed her for payment." Tirohia then relumed to her place, and sent letters to the various settlements to acquaint ihe people. Te Tirarau, Parore, and all the people consulted about this matter and came to the determination that no native should visit that place as il was defiled with blood and that no one should extend his baud to Te Wheinga, nor hold any friendly intercourse with hint. His nephew has been taken away so that the murderer and his aged wife are ■ the only residents of the village, while their; place of residence is looked upon with disgust by all the natives. This is all from your friend. (Signed) J. liii.uai. Taugilcron'a, Wairoa, July I, 1851.