THE TARANAKI MURDER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 1 December 1880, Page 2

THE TARANAKI MURDER.

(3i X£X?.UKAPIi.)

\Vellikgtox, IS ovember 30.

Captain Fairchild has been instructed to proceed at once to Opnuake to convey Tuhia from there to New Plymouth, where he will be.tried at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. It is understood that the Coroner has sent to . the Minister of Justice to know whether Tuhia could not be sent to New Plymouth in the Hinemoa, or go under escort of not less than 20. Rona and other Maoris who gave strong evidence against Tuhia were influenced by the feeling of his crime being committed on their ground. They - thought if the prisoner wished to kill a Pakeha, he ought to have gone into his own district, and were augry at him. Tuhia is the son of a Maori known as Old Whari, or Whare, living between here and Hawera. It is said that his father is suspected of having murdered two surveyors in 1869. Tuhia's mother is one of the handsomest Maori women, and the murderer inherits her good looks and grand physique. No motives for the crime have yet been assigned.

CONFESSION OF THE MURDERER. Otonake, November 30.

The. native has made a further confession. ,'He says :—I saw deceased coming ; tied my horse in the flax, and went towards her. She gave me sixpence and fourpence. The threepenny piece and half-penny referred to as paid to Coffey is correct. I caught her with my right hand, and stabbed her with my left. I then dragged her to a flax bush, and stabbed her again, and seeing she still lived, I dragged her to another, and cut her throat.

The following is the murderer's letter to his friends : " Salutations to all who remain over there, —Great is my love for you all at this time, You will not see me asrain. X have given myself for food for the birds of heaven. This is all. Adieu." A song—" Love cannot.turn to the house; where is the fear ; we were apart in the first sunny days ; overtaken by sin we all part." "This is all to To Wharengaro. Let not your minds be troubled about me. I have sinned ; murdered on no account. Let the thought return to me 5 cry not at all; wish the Great Priest is the thought for me. : This air to Te Wharengaro. Come and see me, and take away with you the horse Whakaputa. Come by yourself. Let not the others come with you. ' This is all; it is finished. By your son, Tuhia.—Written for we by Mr. Hursthouse,"