MURDEROF BISHOP PATTESON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 197, 9 November 1871, Page 6

MURDEROF BISHOP PATTESON.

From a telegram in the " Daily Times," we learn that Bishop Patteson, Anglican Bishop of Melanesia, was murdered on the 20th September last by the inhabitants of a small island in the Soloman Group, known as Nukupa. The following are the particulars of the occurrence, forwarded by Captain Jacobs : — "At 11 a.m. we observed some canoes lying about two miles from us, and the Bishop went in a boat to them. The boat could not cross the reef, so he got into one of the canoes and went ashore. A bout the time he would reach the shove, the natives in the remaining canoes attacked the boat's crew, wounding Mr. Atkin and three others, with arrows. The boat immediately pulled back to the vessel. I sent the mate and three men with two black boys to watch the beach and look for the Bishop. Mr. Atkin went as pilot. It being low water, the boat had to wait outside until the tide rose. While waiting those in the boat observed a canoe drifting towards them. They pulled to it, and found in it the Bishop's corpse, divested of all clothing, with the skull frightfully broken, and several wounds about the body. Next day the Rev. Mr. Broods read the burial service, and committed the Bishop's body to the deep." Captain Jacobs attributes the murder to a desire for revenge for a vessel going there and taking away some of the natives, and otherwise abusing them. The arrows used were poisoned, and Mr. Atkin died on the '27th September, as also did one of the other men wounded.

Another informant says that Nukupa was one of the regular calling places of the Bishop. Six canoes were waiting. The one the Bishop went in was paddled by two chiefs, whom he knew, and another accompanied it. The corpse was in the canoe, stripped and wrapped round with a native mat, and a bunch of cocoanuts, with five knots tied in it, was placed on the breast.

Captain Jacobs also reports that he was informed a steamer was taking away the people by force. This is supposed to be the Wainui, of Dunedin. The island of Nukupa is about three miles round. The population is about 100, all told. The Bishop was accustomed to call there every year, and knew the people well. Bishop Patteson was the son of the late Sir John Patteson L was educated in Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, and became Fellow of Merton. He was consecrated missionary Bishop of Melanesia in the South Pacific Isles, in 1861.