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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 14, 11 January 1845, Page 1

On Tuesday, the last day of the year, a ball was given at Newry on the river Hutt, by Mr. Ludlam to his numerous friends and acqu aintances, to celebrate the completion of a large barn and the first windmill erected in that 3istrict. The barn which is larger than the Lodge Room at Barrett's Hotel, was very tastefully decorated with native shrubs and flowers ; at one end was a large star formed of roses and which, backed by the dark green of the karaka leaves, had a very pretty effect. The supper was laid out in the mill and comprized all the delicacies of the season. Dancing commenced at nine o'clock and was kept up with great spirit until four in the morning, when the guests departed after having spent an evening of great enjoyment, in which nothing was omitted by their host that could contribute to their amusement. The mill, which it is expected will be ready to commence grinding the beginning of next month, is built in the most substantial manner of the wood of the district, and will be furnished with two pair of stones. It reflects great credit on the

energy and enterprize of the spirited proprietor, and will v no doubt be of the greatest advantage to the district, and, we hope, a source of great profit to its owner. Many of the guests from Wellington remained the following day, to visit the improvements in the Hutt and to partake of Mr. Ludlam's hospitality. The wheat which is now in full ear looked remarkably well, and when it is that this the fourth and in some parts, where the land was first cleared, the fifth crop of wheat in succession, we think, we adduce one of the strongest possible facts in proof of ihe fertility of the district. We were very much pleased with the appearance of some hops in the garden which were growing most luxuriantly and which afford the most convincing proof of the capabilities of the district for, becoming the hop garden of New Zealand, if care is taken to provide due shelter from the south east wind, by leaving belts of wood in clearing round those spots intended for the cultivation of this plant,

On January 3rd, an inquest was held at the Cottage of Content, Public- h.use, Pipitea, on the body of Awaho, an aboriginal inhabitant of New Zealand, who shot himself through the body with a musket on the preceeding evening in Pipitea Pah, when a verdict of temporary insanity was returned. This was the same Maori upon whom it will be remembered such strong suspicion rested, of having barbarously murdered Mr. Archibald Milne, in Decembet" 1841, who*e body was found near Ngahuranga, stripped of the greater part of the clothes, and the watch that had belonged to him. Mr. Milne having, on the evening preceeding the day when discovered, been met by some persons returning from Petoni, followed closely by him, and the same Maori having also been picked out, by a witness at the inquest held on Mr. Milne's body at Petoni, from among 1 a number of other Maories,. as the one whom he had seen wearing clothes veiy similar to those Mr. Milne had worn on the unfortunate occasion of his having visited Petoni. It was the same man 'who was moie than suspected of robbing Mr. George Crawford in the early history of our fellow settlers here — and it appears that, on the evening of his having destroyed himself, he had been accused by the wife of a shopkeeper in the immediate vicinity of Pipitea Pah of stealing some biscuits, — indeed, it is supposed that the fear of being taken to the Police Office for this offence induced him to commit the suicide now recorded. It is mudr-to be regretted that no confession ws»s made by him previous to his death — if guilty of Mr. Milnes murder — of which, although without positive proof, the strongest convictions are entertained by most of those here, acquainted with the whole of the circumstances as they occurred ; and who recollect the more than culpable apathy exhibited by the then existing authorities, during the investigation into Mr. Milne's murder, — and the officious meddling of more than one individual to protect this poor ignorant savage from being unfairly dealt with on: the occasion ; and at a more recent period, when the same man having been apprehended on some charge' of robbery, it was again attempted by liis friends to make further inquiry into the murder. A box belonging to him 'was refused to be given up by the Maories at the Pahfor examination, although clothes had been seen in the box when causually opened resembling those worn by - Mr. Milne It is to be feared that now, through the neglect of those whose duty it was to sift the matter properly, no more evidence will be obtained to satisfy the minds of the friends of the murdered individual, they will consequently be left in a degree of doubt^ which might in all probability haye been removed, but for the course takers by the parties referred to. Prompted by fear,, a* Has been hinted by some, of outßre4kV among the natives, — though, supposed™ by others by a fear of losing their own comfortable births if inclined to do aught opposed, to the cue given them at head quarters.