THE WAIKATO.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 785, 7 March 1871, Page 2

THE WAIKATO.

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF EUROPEANS. The Alexandra correspondent of the " Southern Cross" gives the following narrative relative to the firing on the settlers by natives :—" This morning, after concluding the above written, 1 heard 14 or 15 shots fired in Pirongia. On reaching camp this evening I heard that two men, named John Curley and Alfed Crew, who had proceeded to Pirongia for the purpose of shooting pigeons, had been fired at by natives there. ] sought them out, and received the following account from Crew (who, I may state, is a thoroughly reliable person): 'jjWe left camp early in the morning, not having heard that there were natives in the bush. We were some hours in the bush, and had fired several times ; but, finding the pigeons were high up in the bush, we determined to return. After reaching the cross roads, close to where Todd was shot, near the edge of the bush, we suddenly heard a noise like the snapping of a cap. Curley remarked this, and said, ' There are no white men here but you and me, so let's clear out.' We were about 15 yards distant from the place whence the report seemed to come. I sang out, 'Who goes there V but received no answer, and commenced running; I then heard another cap snapped, and after that I heard two shots fired in quick succession, and several afterwards. My gun was unloaded, but I had some cartridges in my breast-pocket. I called out to Curley to have a shot at them, but he continued running. While tryiug to get at my ammunition in my breast-pocket I fell, and at the same time another shot went off, passing close to me. I saw it richochet close behind Curley, who was in advance. I then got up and loaded my rifle, looked round, and saw three natives. I dropped on my knee and fired at the stoutest of them ; one of the others also fired at me as I was taking aim. I fancy I saw him stagger after receiving my fire. They then returned into the scrub. Garmonsway, a settler who was at work on his farm, came out on the road with his rifle on hearing the firing. He met Curley, and on turning round they also saw the natives, and fired two shots each at them at long range."