AUCKLAND. MURDERS AT AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 240, 17 November 1847, Page 3

AUCKLAND. MURDERS AT AUCKLAND.

[From the New Zealander, October 27.} .It appear* -that on Saturday morning, be* tweentwelye nad one- o'clock, the attention of Biddys attracted by alight in - Lieut. Snow's house.' The circumstance being uuasual at > that time of night, he was induced to keep his eye upon it, until he suddenly saw flames break out. He immediately went aft, and mentioned it to Lieut. Gougb, the officer of the watch, who reported it-to Captain Maxwell. Orders were instantly given to lower the cutter, and to render all assistance possible ; in less than twenty minutes, the boat's crew were on the spot, but, owing to the honse being constructed of raupo, the roof had already fallen in. It should be here mentioned, that two canoes were observed to steal out from beneath the shore, seen, though hardly noticed by the crew of the cutter, who had no suspicion at the time of foul play, but which were watched from the ship. They parted company, one of them crossing as if for the Oraki, the other being in a short time lost sight of behind the north head. Lieut. Gough, supposing, at first that the family had escaped, proceeded to the house of a person of the name of Oliver, who was in charge of the cattle that were upon the run, and to 'that of Duder, the signal man, but hearing no tidings of them, concluded that they- must be buried underneath the/ ruins, where his men were already engaged in extinguishing the flames. The spot where he might expect to find the sufferer, if in bed, having been pointed out to to him, he ordered the ashes to. be shovelled 'away-from thence, with great care, and afrer.a little while, the foot of a man appeared. Near him lay the child, (the other daughter had fortpnately been left behind in Auckland, under the care of Mrs. Cooper), and the body of Mrs. Snow herself, but all three apparently across the bed. They were much burned, particularly about the lower extremities, but still easily to be identified. On examination of the corpses, it became only too clear that all was not right. The wounds observed were such as could not have been inflicted by the fall of the rafters, and although a great portion of the clothes had been consumed, it was evident that the man was partially dressed. An armed party was immediately sent from the Dido, to secure some canoes, which were lying in a small adjacent bay, with the natives, twenty-two in number, to whom they belonged. They were found asleep, but were taken prisoners and brought on board. Upon their extraordinary subsequent liberation — which we believe that even the Governor himself would not have had power to order — and that in pretence of a magistrate, we offer no comment. It suffices to say that a clergyman who knew them, pledged his word for their re-appear-ance on the day of the inquest, and that he was afterwards as good as his word, having produced them all. Still such interference was not the less unwarrantable. There can be no doubt but that natives were perpetrators of the, foul deed. Oar native police, pronounced the wounds to be Maori,handiwork at once. 1 But the mutilation of the bodies; from ail three of .which large pieces of flesh had been cut with knives, and the part from whence they were cut, is conclusive evidence. What was done with the flesh we leave our readers to suppose. We hope most:earnestly that we may be still shewn to have been mistaken ; but, for the present our conviction is firm. It now remains to be ascertained whether political grievances, or motives of private revenge have given cause to this frightful act. No one can tell, as yet ; we are ourselves inclined, perhaps because we wish it, to lay it upon the latter agency. The deceased gentleman was known to have had two scuffle* with natives ; one, with a pirty that insisted upon lighting a fire near the powder magasine, from which he finally drove them away, and another, with one who attempted to take • loaf of bread by force from his house. This man, when ejected, shook his fist at Lieut. Snow, and threatened, in the jargon that passes cunrent between the two races, to make a "pakaru!' of him "tihoa." .But if the matter be political, this act, according to Maori custom, is a, declaration of war. 'An.d.ifit should so pTQTf to be, if it liora^Grey, with

his mad instructions, that we have to thank. To our knowledge, that poison Km been working and -spreading in the country, from the hour that it was first poured', out; and we confess, that we should have looked upon any sudden outbreak, which might hare proved a' mere flash in the pan,, with less uneasiness, than upon that settled deliberation of purpose and deep seated feeling about the subject that is now manifested by the natives on every side. There is yet much to be seen here, and perhaps, a lesson to be learned besides.