FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE MAORI MURDER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 12 November 1880, Page 2

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE MAORI MURDER.

(by telegraph. ) "Wanoanui, November 12. Further particulars of the tragedy at Tuana are to hand. Moffatt, in company with Henare, left Taupo for a journey down the Wanganni, giving as his reason that he wanted to recover some property and money he had left in the Tuhr.a district. The two travelled together without interruption until they arrived on Sunday last at the native village of Matahanea, -which ig within a few miles of Taurnarunm, ;md is situated at the spot whore the northern branch of the Wanganui joins the parent stream. From the natives of Matahanea Moffatt and his companion received no welcome. The Maoris appeared sullen, and told the travellers that they had no right there, and that the land was tapued to white men. The same night the Maoris sent a message to Taumarunui to inform the inhabitants of the arrival of MofFatt and Henare. The chiefs at Taumarunni at once held a meeting, at which it was decided that Moffatt should be shot, and they sent out an armed party of seven men under the leadership of Ngatai Maunaki's nephew, to carry the sentence into effect, the murderers formed an ambuscade in the fern by the side of the Maori trapk along which Moffatt and Henare would have to pass. On Monday the travellers resumed their journey, and, when they came within about ten yards of the spot, the war party rose up, and one of them fired at Moffatt and wounded him. He staggered forward crying put •' Kati kati*' (stop, stop), wljen a second shot was fired at him, and he fell in the track a dead man. Then his companion, Henare, called on the party to shoot him also, saying "Kill me aa well as my white friend," but they would. not do it", as they knew hjm well, an 4 that he waa 3

.Wangauui native. Henare uame on to Tauniarunpi, but though he received no violence, he met with no welcome. He asked for a canoe to take hi ox down the river, and at length a lac! v V.nteered to g,. with him. They started on their journey, saw Maunkan, who did not know what had happened,''"■. 4. appeared much grieved at the neivs They also saw 2D;mp at Po'rekino, and by him were tula hasten down to and iuforui the authorities, and t,his they did without loss of time.