THE WAIKATO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 42, 18 February 1871, Page 4

THE WAIKATO

ATTEMPTED MURDER OF EUROPEANS. Alexandra, 31st January. Tapihana, since his arrival in the vicinity of Alexandra, has never ceased urging Whitiora and the other Hauturu natives to join him in making a raid on some of our out-settlers ; aud, failing in this, expressed his determination to kill a pakeha himself if be should find one near Pirongia. He has only seven men with him, and they were to start from Pekauui, near Hauturu, on 30th Jauuary, for Pirongia. Whether this is an empty threat, and that they have returned to their homes at Kawhia, or that they are really in Pirongia, I have not yet heard, bufc expect reliable news before the mail closes, so will leave this open to the last minute. Evening, 9 p.m. This morning, after, concluding the above writing, I heard 14 or 15 shots fired in the Pirongia. Ou reaching camp this eveaing, I heard that two men, named John Curley, and Alfred Crew, who had proceeded to Pirongia for the purpose of shooting pigeons, had been fired at by the natives there. I sought them out, and received the following account from Crew (who I may state is v thoroughly reliable person) : — " We left camp early in the morning, not having heard that there were natives in the bush. We were some hours in the bush, and had fired several times ; but, finding the pigeons were high up in the bush, we determined to return. After reaching the cross roads, close to where Todd was shot, naar the edge of the bush, we suddenly heard a noise iike the snapping of a cap. Curley remarked this, and said, 'There are no white men here but you and me, so let's clear out.' We wero about 15 yards distant from the place whence the report seemed to come. I saog out, ' Who goes there?' but received no answer, and commenced running ; I then heard another enp snapped ; and, after that, I heard two shots fired iv quick succession, and several afterwards. My gun was unloaded, but I had some cartridges in my breast pocket. I called out to Curley to stop and have a shot at them, but he continued running. While trying to get at my ammunition in my breast pocket I fell, aud, at the came time, another shot went off, passing close to me. I saw it ricochet close behind Curley, who ■was in advauce. I then got up and loaded my rifle, looked round, and saw three natives. I dropped on my knee and fired nt the stoutest of them ; one of the others also fired at me as I was taken aim. I faucy I saw him stagger after receiving my lire. They then returned into the scrub. Garmousway, a settler who was at work on his farm, came out on the road with his rifle on hearing the firing, j He met Curley, aud on returning round they also saw the natives, and fired two shots each at them at long range." These are the facts of the case, and, as you will see,' confirm exactly the information received from Whitiroa yesterday, which I wr£>te to you this morning. I see now I have not mentioned the exact locality, bufc yesterday's information was that they " iutended to proceed to Todd's camp, and if*any pakehas were there they intended t<^ shoot them/ It was a fortunate thing fir Garraonsway that these men were in the bush, or no doubt he would have been shot, as his farm is situate close to the bush. What all persons are asking here is, " What steps Government mean to take to put an end to. this state of affairs ? Are a great many industrious settlers to leave their homes because a few natives are allowed to prowl about uumoiested ? " A great many who have farms round Pirongia have to leave their homes, at great expense aud inconvenience, every night, or run. the risk of their lives by staying at their homes. If Government will not take it up till more lives are sacrificed, the settlers must act for themselves, and a war of extermination will be the result. —(Own correspondent of Southern Cross.)