THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 242, 3 December 1880, Page 2

THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

TUHI'S CONFESSION.

The prisoner, on being visited by the Coroner, and Mr Hurstbouße, tbe Native Interpreter, volunteered tbe following statement: — " I left Opunake without any intention of committing any crime, but to look for a horse on the other side of Te Ngamu. ; I met Miss Dobie, and I got off and tied np my horse and followed her back. When I over took her she was frightened, and took six shillings and fourpence from her pocket and gave it to me. I tben took out my pocket knife, and holding her by the shoulder with my left hand, stuck it in her throat. She fell down, but was not dead. I then dragged her to the first flax hush, and as she struggled 1 cut her throat again. I then dragged her to another flax bush and afterwards to where she was found, where she died. I took off my trousers and threw them in a flax bush, then went to catch my horse, which bad got away from where it was tied. Whilst catching the horse, Honi Pibama and party pasted. I hid myself from view, and when thty were gone, I caught my horse and followed then, and, riding fast, I overtook them near the Telegraph Office. I rode qaickly amongst them, and passed some of them before they saw me. The knife I killed her with is the one marked T.H. I did not throw it away ; it must have dropped. Tbe blood oa the moleskin trousers is hers. That on tha other trousers is pig's blood. The blood on the coat is hers. I don't know why it was so little. I bad five shillings on tho morniog before the murder. When I came back, I spent 3b 6d in tbe hotel, and gave 3s 6d to a man named Kaumu, of Parihaka. I gave Coffey a threepenny bit for matches, and a halfpenny for a pipe. After tbe deed .1 washed nothing else. I told nobody what I had done, neither my wife nor my father. I want now at once to be killed. I do aot want any more trials at all." When told this could not be allowed, Tuhi added, "May not tbe relatives kill me, or may I not kill myself,? She called out once before I stabbed her. She saw me get oil my horse, but did not run away."

The following is a copy of a letter sent by the murderer to his friends:— " Salutations to you all who remain over there. Great is my love for you all at this time. You will not see me again. I have given myself for good for the birds of heaven. This is all the adieu. A song of love cannot turn me to the howse. Where is the fear ? We were never apart in the first sunny days overtaken by sin. We all part. Tola is all, 76 Wbar«ogaro

—Let not your minds be troubled about me. I have sinned, murdered. On no account let the thought return to me. Cry not at all. With the Great Priest is the thought for me. This is all. To Te Wharengaro--Come here and see me, and take away with you the horse to Whakaputa. Come by yourself. Let not the others come with you. This is all. It is finished. By your son Tuhuata. Written for me by Mr Hursthouse."