AN INCIDENT IN THE EARLY DATS OF OTAGO

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 74, 10 July 1869, Page 5

AN INCIDENT IN THE EARLY DATS OF OTAGO

(A3ST OEIGUKTAL STOET.)

*i(Erom the " Waikouaiti Herald.") P* Whilst sitting in my room in a state of listlessness many retrospective thoughts obtruded themselves on my mind, producing effects either gloomy or the reverse, according to the subjects presenting themselves to my imagination. Amongst the rest, that which I am about to narrate occupied a prominent position. I pretend not to any flowery, rhetorical display, but can a "plain, unvarnished tale deliver," which "I forward to you either for insertion in your paper, or to give to your " devil " to ignite the weed.

About thirty years ago I was residing in a locality not many miles distant from the 'Waikouaiti Sandspit, on which was established a whalingstation owned by Mr. John Jones, but conducted by a man appointed for the purpose. At that time we had no administration of the law amongst us, but crime was unheard of, and slight grievances were settled either by one or both of the parties aggrieved expressing their feelings in language not exactly suited to ears polite ; or, if inclined to a more substantial expression, by recording on each others' bodies. — Having occasion to visit Otaku on business, I tood advantage of a seat in a whaleboat in which a party was going over, and accordingly proceeded there in the afternoon. It was somewhat late in the day before we arrived at the Otago Heads. "When in the midst of a desultory conversation we were surprised at hearing the report of firearms; which, however, at the time merely elicited some commonplace remark, incidental to what was at that time and place rather an unusual circumstance. We proceded to the then usual landing-place ; went ashore, and directed our steps to a general store, then kept by a man named Hoare. At the time to which I am now referring there were but few European inhabitants in Otago. "The whaling season was over, and the greater part of the whaling gang went to Sydney to get their money-orders cashed by the owner, then residing there ; consequently but few remained. But amongst that number was an old man named James Brown, who had for many years been a resident in the southern parts of the island, engaged in sealing as well as whaling, the former of which occupations he had long followed with the most profitable result. The old man had on numerous occasions violent altercations with a native iff the^place named Tewteracki vPawai, a young man in the prime of life, and whose general exterior and deportment was far superior to that generally observed amongst the Maori race. His features when not excited by passion, were decidedly pleasing, and he had always hitherto been on terms of favourable intimacy with the neighbouring Europeans. On this day a renewal of their discussion took place ; language was used by Brown which excited the most baneful and revengeful passions of the native. They separated for a time — Brown proceeding to his hut, while the native remained brooding over and absorbed by feelings of the most deadly nature. At length he proceeded to the window of Brown's hut, and stealthily peering through, perceived Brown calmly seated by his fireside. A fearful resolution was instantly conceived^ and as instantly acted upon by the native. He at once ran to his kaika, which was only a few paces distant, seized his fowling-piece, loaded it with a heavy charge of powder and shot, returned to Brown's hut, and, presenting his gun from the outside the 'window (from whence he had previously observed him), discharged its contents into the body of the unfortunate Brown. This was the explana^tion of the report of firearms which attracted our attention when we arrived at the Otago Heads. It happened that a French whaling vessel was then lying in the bay, having a. surgeon on board, and who was almost in immediate attendance ; but his services were unavailing as Brown * expired in a few hours. The excitement, produced on all around, both European and native, may -be easily conceived ; however, retribution on the offender was the all-absorbing feeling, and to arrest him was the primary object to be attained. He had decamped, and was nowhere to be seen. A most . diligent and unremitting search was at once instituted, but for some hours without success, though he was at length discovered and secured in a neighbouring hut. Those present now entered into serious deliberation as to the most justifiable course to . be pursued. Some, and I may say the majority, were for resorting to summary measures by immediately shooting him; others advocated the propriety of conveying him by boat to Akaroa, where ' a magistrate resided. This, the difficulty of accomplishing from its distance, and the strong desire so urgently manifested by the majority for £ luminary retribution, overruled the *"iUie latter proposition. During the deliberation some uneasy movements were noticeable among a few of the bystanders which elicited some observations. Suddenly the report of firearms was heard proceeding from the

hut in which the native was confined. A rush was simultaneously made tswards it, and when the door was opened a harrowing spectacle was presented to view — the native was laying on the floor of the room, his wife alongside him, her arms tenaciously encircling his waist, and both dead. It appeared upon subsequent investigation that, at the repeated and urgent solicitations of the native, a loaded musket had been clandestinely furnished him, and his wife, who had previously been admitted to see him, fully participating in the feelings i which actuated him, assumed the position in which she was found, and he then by means of a string attached to the trigger of the musket, discharged it, the bullet passing through his own chest and lodging in that of of his wife. Their deaths were instantaneous.