A HORRIBLE AFFAIR AT OHINEMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1529, 22 April 1882, Page 2

A HORRIBLE AFFAIR AT OHINEMUTU.

A story reaches us from Ohinemutu of a circumstance which has recently come to light in that vicinity, and which but too sadly indicates that the inclination for barbarous practices is not yet extinct in the native mind. We have not, as yet, been able to* gather all the particular of the affair, but it appears that some time ago a native woman gave birth to a child, which, of course, was claimed by the husbiind as his. There was another native, however, who was reputed to be the father of the child, and who, when the child was born, claimed parentage. Between him and the husband a quarrel ensued as to ownership, and in the squabble eacli seized the unfortunate infant by a leg, and did not desist until they had succeeded in pulling it completely in halves. The remains of the child were afterwards buried privately, and the horrible' deed was kept quiet until the other day, when the maori policeman succeeded in bringing it to light. An inquest was held at Ohinemutu on Thursday last, the , particulars of which we have not as yet heard. There, is also, some talk about the grandfather of the infant having shot, himself on hearing of the deed. Our Cambridge reporter wires * last night :— The affair at Rotorua was not so bad as at first rumoured. - The cvi- r dence produced' at" inquest .held yesterday showed ,that ■ when the child was born the mothers 'people' were desir;ons of taking. it^^kyf^The^^thpT^o^ jeetedpand a,' struggle 1 ensu'edCin . - s whiclij the^chilcl.was roughly handled^ At 'cliecL two" days; after and; was < buHe^^JiC^V nia|ns|^|ing exliumed B?psst£sqrtem%fx.% ammationjwas heldf^ l juf 3£ye|timsl a verdict oPdied frfoi I na#.frai li cause3K '