TAURANGA.—WITNESSES AGAINST KEREOPA.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 58, 13 December 1871, Page 2

TAURANGA.—WITNESSES AGAINST KEREOPA.

The monotony of our quietude lias been somewhat disturbed by the intelligence of the capture of the murderer of the Rev. Mr Yolkner, Kereopa—who is now safely lodged in Napier Gaol—awaiting examination. Immediately on the intelligence reaching here, Mr Commissioner Clarke despatched messengers to Whakatanc and Opotiki|for witnesses who were present,and can give satisfactory evidence which will without doubt convict this savage, who not only murdered, hut maltreated the body by swallowing the eyes and drinking the blood of this sainted man of God, afterwards severing the head from his body, preserving it in native form, and then carrying it with him as a trophy through the country on to Taranaki. The witnesses—who are a line looking body of men —on arriving here were examined by Mr Clarke as to their knowledge of the guilt of Kereopa, which was of such a satisfactory character that Mr Clarke has accompanied them in the s. ‘ Keera ’ to Napier, when Kereopa will he brought up and charged with the crime of the murder of Mr Volkner, and committed to Wellington to take his trial. The Xgatiraugi and the Arawa tribes express great indignation at this strange procedure of Government in taking Kereopa to Napier or Wellington to he tried, as the crimes with which lie will he charged have all been committed within this province, and also hint that this proceeding will he looked upon by King Tawhiao and his Ministers as an act of fear and weakness, '—Cross.