DETAILS OF THE MURDER OF BISHOP PATTESON.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 887, 14 November 1871, Page 3

DETAILS OF THE MURDER OF BISHOP PATTESON.

(SVotaMie " N. Z. Herald," Nov. 1.)

The MelaUesian Mission schooner Southern Cross arrived in harbour yesterday morning, bringing Us the sad intelligence of the death, at the Island of Nukapu, in the Swallow "Group, of Bishop Patteson. The following brief account of the death of Bishop Patteson reaches Us by private hand < — This sad event took place at an islet ■called Nukapu, thirty miles to the N.E., of Santa Cruz. It was the Bishop's plan to call here first, because he can make himself understood by the natives of this place which he is Unable to do at the larger island. There was a special reason for taking ■every precaution on the present occasion, for the captain of a labour Vessel which called at Contraiete, Solomon Islands, where the Eev. Mr Atkin was stationed, had announced his intention of paying a visit to Santa Cruz, which must have taken place (if at all) shortly before ollr arrival. We reached the islet on September 20, and were surprised to see four canoes hovering to windward, and not coming out to Us as usual. The Bishop determined to pull off to them, and took with him Mr Atkin, Stephen, of San Cristoval, and James and John, of Mota. The tide being low, the boat could not cross the reef, so the Bishop Went ashore in a canoe manned by two chiefs. When he had been absent about three quarters of an hour, a volley of arrows were fired into the boat which immediately sailed off to the vessel. Mr Atkin, Stephen, and John were all Wounded. Mr Atkin, howeveT, returned in the boat in quest of the Bishop. The tide having risen, the boat parsed into the lagoon, and in a tenaUtless canoe was found the Bishop's body, wrapped in native matting, and with a palm frond, tied with five knots, thrust into the breast. The right side of the skull was completel shattered, and there were several arrow wounds about the body. The face bore no mark of agony> but looked placid. The eyes Were closed. Mr Atkin died seven days afterwards, and Stephen followed on the eighth. They were buried at the same time. John's wound was slight, and he was bo far recovered when he reached his own island of Mota, in the Bank's group, that we left him there- on shore, where he would be more comfortable than on board ship.