THE NATIVE MEETING AT OHINEROA.

Southland Times, Issue 1161, 19 May 1869, Page 2

THE NATIVE MEETING AT OHINEROA.

HORRIBLE MURDER OF A MAORI WOMAM. We ('Southern Cross") have re-

ceived from a gentlemfan wem^r<M«^«^ native matters, and who bas J-eceoMJ v visited the East Coast, some in|p^rtaTsf, ri information respecting the natw|wtin«*| ; . at Ohineroa, and the doings of th^Jfoa^i < ing Hau Hau desperadoes. , Our informant has derived i»is very best native" sources. '"- -'*' '* The native meeting at Ohineroa was attended by the Hau Haus in very large numbers, the Hau Hau felon Kereopa being amongst the number. The meeting also included a. mra-ber of the so-calLed friendly natives. Over 600 gallons of rum, which had been purchased in the I "Waikato, was drunk. A great deal of speechifying took place, as is inevitable where so much turn and Maori loquacity and impudence- are found in combination. Amongst others the notorious Kereopa, who, like some bad spirit, seems to be ever present m the midst of evil, made a speuch, m the course of which he boasted that had Te Kooti come to Tauranga he (Kereopa) would have joined him. This miscreant goes about accompanied by a body-guard of eiffht men, who are decked out ma

kind of uniform— in all probability w»e clothes stripped from Europeans— and are armed to the teeth. He goes about himself with a double-barrelled gun, two r«volvera and a sword. Ring* and other trinkets, as well as money, are said to be very plentiful amongst the Hau Haul, and which have been taken from the homesteads of the settlers, or stolen from the persons of murdered victims. Another feast was being held, in a forest a short distance above Ohineroa, and was of a more private character than that at Ohinero itself. Several women from Te Kooti's band were present. It is said that Tawhiao had intimated his intention to attend the meeting. The Hau Haus boast that they are .in receipt of money from the Thames district. Our informant furnishes us with particulars of a most diabolical murder committed upon an unfortunate native woman. It appears that a native who had previously professed friendship towards the Europeans, decided on joining Te Kooti, and endeavored to, persuade his wife to accompany him. She, however, absolutely refused to do so, and the man went without her. Subsequently a party of Te Kooti's scouts, amongst whom was this native, captured the woman while she was travelling. She was in an advanced state of pregnancy, and a messenger was despatched to headquarters to ask Te Kooti what was to be done with the woman. The order of the denoniacal Hau Hau leader was that she was to be disembowelled and cut to pieces, and the monsters faithfully executed the order. This intelligence was given to our informant by a native woman who is well acquainted with Te Kooti's doings. ~ - - ..-..- Kereopa has decided that he will not move out of his own district to assist Te Kooti unless the latter is successful, j