THE MAHIA MURDER. EVIDENCE AGAINST THE ACCUSED.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 363, 27 April 1889, Page 5

THE MA HI A MURDER. EVIDENCE AGAINST THE ACCUSED.

Gisborne, April 23. When* the half-caßte Makaore was arrested tor the Mahia murder, a boy, Rehana, made a confession that he accompanied Makaore to Gollans house on Thursday evening, and remained at the gate, 300 yards from the house. Shortly after the boy heard a shot, then someone cried out as if in pain. Not long after Makaore came out, and the two proceeded back to the kainga. Some time afterwards the boy observed the house on tire. The house was on an out-station of Mr G. S. Ormond's, some eight miles from Mahia township and three miles from the station house. It was a cottage of two rooms. Gollan not being at work on Friday morning, Mr Ormond sent for him, when the house was found burnt down, and traces of foul play were discovered. The remains' were discovered, but the head was missfog* Subsequently part of the charred skull was discovered. On Saturday morning th<i police arrived from Wairoa, and arrested Makaore. Blood was found on his clothes. Mr Large, J.P., acting-coroner, opened the inquest, which was adjourned till Thursday, to enable Detective Grace to work up the evidence of the Maori woman Mihi. Gollan was at Gi3borne in the morning. Mihi states that Gollan had always been good to her, and she was grieved at his death. Makaore frequently endeavoured to get her to leave Gollan, but she detested the half-caste, he being a bad man. Makaore has bore a notoriously bad character. Gollan was generally liked. The woman states she had told Gollan of Makaore's overtures, and consequently there was great bitterness and jealousy between tho two. Mihi is a pure Maori, of plain appearance, and aged 24.

A talking parrot, which a man guaranteed to be " a very clever bird," was kept by his new owner for three days, when finding that he did not say a single word, he went to his guarantor for an explanation. " Oh," said the latter, " he does not say much, but he's ad Ho think,"