LATEST INTELLIGENCE

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 40, 14 November 1868, Page 3

LATEST INTELLIGENCE

MASSACEE OF SETTLEES BT THE ESCAPED CHATHAM ISLAND PEISONEES. GEIAT EXCITEMENT DT 'WELLIS'Q'ION. (Fromthe "Daily Times' "Telegrams.") Wellington, Nov. 12th. At 3 o'clock on Monday morning the ex-prisoners entered Poverty Bay, burnt the homesteads, and murdered in cold blood 28 persons. Many others are missing. Those who survived the massacre took refuge at ■ Turanganui. Another attack is hourly espeeted. The whole country is in a blaze. Amongst the killed were Major Biggs, wife,. child, and servant; Captain Wilson, wife, children, and servant; Dodd and Peppard, and servant ; Nairn, wife, and child ; Mrs. M'Culloch and child; Mr. Caddie, Mr. Pedbury, Lieutenant Walsh, wife, and child. The corpses were mutilated. Mrs. Maine was burnt after being tomahawked. The Tawera sailed for Napier with women and children. The Success, with other families, sailed the same day for Auckland. Further telegrams from Napier state that 30 European men, women, and children were murdered, besides 20 of the Friendlies. 10 houses also were burnt. Lieutenant Gascoigne, who was in command of the neighbouring stockade, is waiting for assistance. '■ The St. Kilda had gone to Poverty Bay prior to the receipt of the disastrous intelligence. She and the Ahuriri were to take up reinforcements consisting of both Europeans and Natives. The schooner Eagle arrived at Napier thi3 morning, bringing a good many fugitives from, other portions of the I coast. The place attacked was Matewlierowhero, about seven miles from the township or village at Turanganui. Firing was heard at Turanganui, and an armed party, which went out to ascertain the cause, met the fugitives coming thither. The search made for the bodies revealed many of them in the flax and scrub, having been shot while in the act of escaping. The few details yet to hand show the surprise to have been complete, several having been murdered in their beds. Major Biggs, Captain Wilson, and several of the others, were long settlers in this Province. The. gloom occasioned is very great. Our only consolation is that it must rouse the Colony to energetic action. A public meeting on the subject is in contemplation. A deputation waited on Mr. Hall and Mr. Eichmond to-day, to assure them that it was the desire of the people, to strengthen their hands in taking active measures.