MAORI SUPERSTITION AND MURDER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2326, 31 August 1880, Page 2

MAORI SUPERSTITION AND MURDER.

SECOND EDITION

[By Telegraph.] Auckland, August 31. An extraordinary statement has bean made by some natives in town. They say that a man named Iloaui and wife had a short time since been digging gum near Point Russell, on the Waikato. The wife took ill, and subsequently died ; but a story became current that she had been bewitched by her husband. Th : relations of the woman reside in the King Country, and two brothers came down for the purpose of killing tin* cam who was possessed of such divilful power. They found him quietly dL- ;ing for gum ; be had a large bole open. The men killed him with a tomahawk, put him in the hole and covered him up. They then returned to the King Country congratulating themselves on having done the State some service by ridding New Zealand of a man who might bo the dcatli of anybody whenever he took it into bis bead. These are the facts as stated by the natives in town yesterday, but probably it will not be thought worth while to enquire into the matter. It may be mentioned that Wiremn Rcwiti, a well-known chief at Kaipara, was present at Mechanics’ Bay on bis way to the King Country. Delias been ill for some time, and both bo and his friends are convinced that be has been bewitched, and that the only chance of cure lies in a visit to a priest residing amongst the Kingites who can remove the spell.