THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 324, 2 December 1880, Page 2

THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

Opujtake, Nov. 30. Last night, after the committal of the prisoner, he said, " I do not wish for any more trial. I want to meet my I death here now." The handcuffs were ! then put en him, the prisoner preserving the same calmness, and looking at all round him straight in the face. The murderer has made a further con- | fession. lie says : " I saw deceased | coming, and tied the horse in the flax. I went towards her and she gave me 6s 4d. The three-penny piece and half--jenny referred to and paid to Coffey is correct. I caught her with my r'ghi hand and stabbed her with my left, and dragged her to the flax bush and stabbed her again, and seeing; she still lived, I dragged her to another and cut her throat, when life was extinct." The murderer has written a letter t<r his friends, as follows Salutation* to all who remain over there. Great is my love for you all at this time. You will not see me again. I have given myself for food for the birds of heaven. This is all. The adieu, a song, ' Love cannot torn me to the house. Where is the fear I We were apart in the firstsunny days ; overtaken by sin we all must part. ■ . " This i? all to Te Wharengaro.* 'Lit not your minds be troubled about me. I have sinned, murdered. Qa no account let the thought return to- me. Cry not at all. -The Great Priest is the thought for me. This all to te Wharengaro. Gom» and see me and take away with you tho horse., Whakaputa come by yourself ; let not the others, come with you. This, is all, it is finished. By your sou, tuhata. Written for me by Mr Hursthouse." Haweea, Nov. 30. It is understood the. Coroner has sent to the Ministerof Justice„to know whether Tuhi could not be sent to New Plymouth in the Hineraoa; or go f under an escort of not less than 2o men.

Rona and other Maoris who gave strong evidence against Tuhi w«re influenced by feelings of resentment at this crime*being committed on their ground.' They thought if the prisoner wiehed to kill a pakeha he rught to have g.)ne into his own district, and were angry at him. Tuhi is a son of a Maori k=own as old Wh*re, or Wliara, Jjving-.be. wsen here an<l Hawera. It ia said that hia father is inspected of .having murdereS two sawyers in 1869. Tuhi's mother ia one of the handßomest of Maori women, and her murderer inherits her good look* and granrt physique. No motive for the crime is assigned Wblmnoton, Kov 30 Caption Fain hild h;is been instructed to proceed at onco to Opunake to eonv«j.. Tuhi from there to New Plymouth, what* he will b" tried at the next sitting of tha Suprensp Court