THE MURDER OF MR PITCAIRN.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 484, 30 March 1869, Page 2

THE MURDER OF MR PITCAIRN.

It will be remembered that a few days ago we published intelligence of the death of Mr Pitcairn, a surveyor, by some of Te Kooti's band. From Auckland papers now to hand we have the following particulars of the murder : Te Kooti's followers and Rakuraku's people are reported to have fraternized, and Te Kooti inquired whether any Europeans were living in the neighborhood. He was informed that Mr Pitcairn lived at Ohiwa, and, in the evening, Te Kooti paraded ten of his old comrades of the Chatham Islands. It is stated they were all dressed like soldiers, and that Te Kooti wore four revolvers in bis belt, with a sword by his side and a telescope in his hand. The murderers proceeded to Te Tarawai, and there procured a canoe, and soon reached the Island of Uretara, in the middle of the Ohiwa harbor. Mr Pitcairn, it appears, was out shooting at the time. We have been informed that Mr Pitcairn had been informed of the danger of his situation, and had removed to Ohiwa island as a place of safety. The island, however, afforded no refuge whatever, as it could be approached on foot at low tide. Mr Pitcairn had often been told that the locality he was in was quite unsafe, but on every occasion he expressed his firm trust in Rakuraku's people, from whom he expected to receive notice of any intended attack. He had been advised to remove to the mill near Hokaia's pah at Rauporoa, but declined to do so. The murderers on their arrival in the island, found there a native woman who had acted as housekeeper to Mr Pitcairn, and an old man and a boy. The murderers threatened to kill the woman—whose name is Ruta—if she would not betray Pitcairn. She appears to have consented—in fact her treachery is of the basest description. On his arrival on the island in his canoe, Ruta met Mr. Pitcairn and asked him for his gun, but he declined to give it up and stepped out of the canoe, proceeding toward his house. The woman still urged him to give up his gun, and on his persisting in his refusal she caught hold of it. Hemi, one of the murderers, then stepped from his hiding place and snatched the gun, while at the same time Rangiaho struck Mr Pitcairn on the left side of the head, completely cleaving the skull. One or more blows were dealt, and the body was dragged into the tent. The stores which Mr Pitcairn had procured from Mr Simpkin's store at Whakatane on the Monday, were packed up and taken away. Mr Pitcairn's watch and instruments were also stolen, the body of the unfortunate gentleman being left in the hut.