DRUTAL MURDER NEAR OPUNAKE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 323, 30 November 1880, Page 2

DRUTAL MURDER NEAR OPUNAKE.

New Plymouth, Nov. 26. Information has . been received from Opun’ike that Miss Dobie v sister-in-law to Captain Goring his been found murdered about two miles south of the Opunake camp. She went out for a walk during 4he : afternoon, and, not returning as expected, a search' party was sent to look for her, when her body was. found in the flax with her head nearly severed from it. It is supposed that the unfortunate girl had “ been violated and then murdered. Mr Bullen and the r coroner have proceeded to Opunake to hold an inquest. i LaterA man named Walter Stannard has been arrested on a charge of mqrdering Miss Dohie. Blood was found on his clothes. Miss Dobie, with her mother was about to proceed to England, and she had been on a visit to her sister (Mrs Goring), aithe Camp at Cape Egmont, where Captain Gorign is stationed. Sue had been sketching all parts of the country, and had visited Parihaka, where she had been most kindly treated by Te Whiti and the other natives. Mrs Dobie and her daughter had gone to Opunake, and ,it is supposed that Dobie had gone to sketch Te Nagamu Bay, where the ‘Lord Worsley was about a mile and a hall from the township, where she must have been waylaid by a ruffian, who ill-treated and then murdered the poor girl. There is great excitement here over the affair as the young lady had been on a visit, and was' well known to many. Keen sympathy is generally expressed for the mother and sisters. Wellington, Nov. 27. The body of the murdered Miss Dobie was not violated. ; The following particulars regarding the man Stannard, arrested on suspicion, have been received by the Government :—He resided in Hawera for the past twelve months, and has been engaged as a billiard-marker in one of the hotels there for some time, pnd has also been employed as clerk to a butchering company. He said that he arrived in Lyttelton about three years ago as mate of a ship. A telegram has been received from Opunake, to the effect that a native has been arrested for the Opunake murder and that it is likely strong evidence will be brought against him. Referring to the murder, the Taranaki Herald says the spot is about a hundred yards from an uninhabited pah at To Nagamu, on a road leading to a bay of the same name, into which a stream called the Otaki runs. Te Nagamu is about forty-seven miles from Now i Plymouth, and about a mile from Opuuake, the Government towns hip. It is , a place where the Opunake Flax Company had their works. The land towards thei sea is much broken and thiekly covered with flax, small wood, and undergrowth which reaches i the edge of the stream. The spot is av. ry lonely one, and where such an atrocious crime could be com nitted with impunity. Miss Mary Dobie, we 1 -am, was about 26 years * of age. She had pleasing features, and was a most intelligent young lady. She excelled as an artist, and several of her sketches have appeared from time to time ra the Graphic newspaper. The Taranaki Herald’s special telegraphs that a pair of pants much torn and smeared with blend, were found yesterday concealed m a flax bush by the spot of the murder, and also part of an old bridle newly broken. So intense is the excitement at Opunake, that crowds of people are seen all day' long going to- and from the scene of the murder- News has just been received that the counter part of the broken bridle has been found this, morning. The Herald says a report reached town this afternoon that one native has been arrested on suspicion. An order was j : received from the authorities to send out I several R.M. indictable f-jrms, and also “ Johnstone’s Justice of the Peace, from which we infer it is probable that one or more of the persons under arrest will be committed under the Coroners warrant. We hear that Wiremu Kingi of Tin ora was taken to see , the ' body of the unfortunate young lady, and was asked his opinion as to whether it was the act of a Maori. The old chief shook his head And replied in the negative, saying that Maoris did nOt kill in that way. Dr Gibbs (late of Napier) is the Coroner. '