THE MURDER AT WAIAPU.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 970, 10 September 1878, Page 3

THE MURDER AT WAIAPU.

The ' Herald's ' correspondent, telegraphing from Wellington on Sunday, says : — " Regarding the murder of the woman m Waiapu, I loaro. that Mr Scully had telegraphed that some of the friends of the woman have raised' objections to the post mortem examination of the body. The Government telegraphed m reply that a doctor shquld.be sent to make such examination,'and also that an inquest should be held ; ahd if any person interfered to prevent an inquest and examination of the body, siich person would be arrested. Dr Pollen, jun.' (the old man's nephew) will make the examination, and a steamer has been chartered by, the Government to go to the locality, and enforce the vindication of the law inthis matter. The body Was buried on the 27th ultimo, and the inquest cannot be held before the 10th' instant Dr Pollen, jun., is understood to be of opinion, .that, m consequence of decomposition, only slight evidence can be obtained. Henare Pate, a native of importance, and wlip,. I believe, is now m custody of ' the natives, is to be delivered up to the police. . He' has confessed both to the rape and murder. This he did to the native authorities before which he and ■ his accomplices were brought. Late telegrams . state that the flnative friends of the woman will not object to examination of the body. Captain Porter and other officials telegraph to this effect. A Coroner's Court of Inquiry, consisting of six Europeans and six natives, will si on the case, and it is believed that the? evidence will be conclusive. It appears it was all through drink'; and, worst of all, bad drink— vile spui^;, wprsfi than the worst Russian raki/dispened m these districts — some villanous compound composed of bad rum, salt, and ; tobacco, which, it is said, is steeped m the liquor, producing violent intoxication. Piene Tu^a chief of event influence m the district, who is now m custody, has confessed to the rape, and will, very, likely, be found an accomplice m the murder, if not an actual participator therein.