A STRANGE STORY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 207, 31 August 1880, Page 2

A STRANGE STORY.

Auckland, Tuesday. An extraordinary statement has been made by some natives iv town. They say that a man named Hoani and his wife had, a short time since, been digging gum near Point Russell, in the Waikato. The wife took ill and ultimately died, but the story became current that she had been bewitched by her husband. The relations of the woman reside in the King country, aud her two brothers came down for the purpose of killing the man who was possessed of such a dreadful power. They found him quietly digging for gum, and he had a large hole open, and the men killed him with a tomahawk, put him in the hole, aud covered him up. They then returned to the King country, congratulating themselves on having done the Etite some service by ridding New Zealand of a man who might be the death of auybody whenever he took it iuto his head. These are the facts as stated by the natives iv town yesterday, but probably it will not be thought worth while to inquire into the matter. It may be mentioned that Wiremu Rewiti, the well-known chief at Kaipara, ia at present at Mechanic's Bay, ou his way to the King couutry. He has been ill for Eome time, and both ho and his friends are convinced that he has beeu bewitched, and that his only chance of cure lies in a visit to a priest resident amongst tho Kingites, who can remove the spell.