CORRECT VERSON OF HOW THE MURDERS WERE COMMITTED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 81, 8 April 1869, Page 2

CORRECT VERSON OF HOW THE MURDERS WERE COMMITTED.

Mr W. N. Searancke, Resident Magistrate at Waikato, in a letter addressed to the Hon. Dr Pollen, at Auckland, gives the following account of how the murders were committed atthe White Cliffs, and who were the murderers : — " About the middle of February, Tawhiao invited the whole ot the Waikatos residing inland also the Ngatimaniapoto tribe to feast at Kawhia This invitation was, however, declined by Reihana and, his party, who reside at Pnkearuhe, a settlement near the he ;d of the Maukau River ; also by the Maukau natives. On tha 15th ultimo, Tamati Ngapora, Manuwhiri, Rewi, and a large number of Waikatos and Ngati maniapotos started for the feast at Kawhia, and arrived on the following day within a mile or two of it, when they were overtaken by a messenger, who informed Tamati that immediately after they had left Tokangamutu, Reihana and his friends had had a meeting, and had decided to make an attack on the Europeans. Ont party, headed by Wetere, and subsequently joined by Tikaokao, to attack the Europeans at the White Cliffs, and the other party, headed by Reihana himself, to attack Alexandra. On hearing this, Tamati, Rewi, and party hurried on to the feast. What took place there I caunot say. The food was given them at once ; but instead of remaining there a week or two, they only stopped about 48 hours, and returning, dividing into three parties of about 200 men in each party, by different routes to intercept Reihana, and, if possible, stop. Wetere and the party going to the White Cliffs. Unfortunately they were too late to do so. The party under Rewi found Reihana and thirty armed men at Te Uira, oa their way to Alexandra. Te Uira is a large settlement situated between Tokangamutu aud Hangatiki, and about twentyfive miles from Alexandra and the convening point of the roads thereabouts. The "Waikatos drove Reihana and party before them to Tokangamutu, and ordered them to return home at once. Two or three days afterwards they received the news of the murders at the White Cliffs, which information was forwarded by Tamati, on the 21st, to Mr Hellet to send to me, and forwarded by me to you on the 24th ultimo. Tamati's letter, I regret to Bay, was misinterpreted by me in the hurry of forwarding it. It should have been 'by Wetere ' (murders committed). " The actual murderers at the White Cliffs were a half-caste lad, a son of a European named Frank JPhilips, residing at Mokau Heads; Wetere, a son ofthe lato Takerei, of Te Awakino, near

Mokau; Herewini, a son of the late Peketai, formerly residing at Waitara, subsequently of Mokau; and Te Tana, of Mokau Heads. These four actually committed the murders. Mr Whiteley was shot by Wetere. He was told to go back, and refused. His horse was then shot, Mr. Whitley then sunk on his knees and commenced praying; while so doing he was shot at twice by Wetere, with a revolver, and missed. Wetere then went up close and shot the unfortunate gentleman dead. These murders, and more particularly Mr. Whitley's have caused a most profound sensation and feeling of regret throughout the district occupied by Tawhiao,and the Waikatos. Neither Tawhiao, Tamati, nor Eewi left their houses for twenty-four hours after the news arrived."