The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-25 00:00:00

elligence.

THE BAT TL.

Horrible Tragedy in New Zealand.

The Wellington _lndependent reports a terrible tragedy in
the Canterbury provinces :—" On Friday last some rumours
of a series of murders at Amuri, near Kai Koras, were
bruited abroad, but we were unable to obtain full and re-
liable particulars until Saturday morning, when Captain
Davidson, of the schooner Randolph, who had recently ar-
rived from the Kai Koras, furnished us with full details of
the horrible occurrence. The following are the particulars,
as prepared from the captain's statement. The schooner
Randolph left Kai Koras about 10 days ago, and just before
her departure the tragedy took place. About 70 persons in
all were collected at Amuri, in expectation of the arrival of
a steamer from Lyttelton, which was to take away 500 bales
of wool. Some of the party were Europeans, and the rest
were mainly Maories belonging to the neighbourhood.
The first news of the event was brought to Mr. Fyffs'
station on Friday morning, the 27th of February, by a chief
named Saul, who had galloped from Amuri, a distance of
18 miles, without drawing bridle. From his statement it
would appear that seven of the natives slept in a hut
together, and on that morning about two o'clock, when
all were hushed in sleep, a Maori, named Duff, arose softly
from beside his companions, and creeping stealthily in the 1
darkness, emerged from the hut, reached the cook's fire-

place and possessed himself of a spade. Armed with this
weapon, which was worn sharp at the edges by use, he crept
cautiously back to where his unconscious countrymen lay,
and, fearful to relate, contrived, before they could defend
themselves, to kill two of them. It is almost incredible, but
nevertheless perfectly true, that he literally severed the
heads from the bodies of his victims. The spade was sharp,
the objects of his attack lay prostrate—and the foal deed
was accomplished in a style which would have done credit
to an English headsman of the olden time, or a modern
Chinese executioner in constant practice. The next victim
was partially awake ere attacked, and instinctively, blanket
in hand, uplifed his arms to ward off the blow 1 Crash I it
came down on his temple, inflicting a fearful cut, and
driving the blanket deep into the wound. Stunned and
bleeding, the unfortunate man fell. so seriously injured,
that he is not expected to recover. This triple immolation
seemed but to add fresh fury to the human butcher. Like
a Malay running a-muck, the blood of his victims only
seemed to whet his appetite for more. The previous events
had occurred amidst perfect silence. The murderer never
spoke--the night was pitch dark, and, beyond the dull,
crunching sounds of the blows, each of which may almost
be said sent a human being into eternity, nought had oc-
curred to break the stillness of the night or arouse the
sleepers to a sense of their impending danger, But as he
attacked a fourth of their number the noise roused the
others; but, ere the assassin was secured, he had inflicted
some ghastly wounds on the man's shoulder and thigh. A
hasty council of war was held ; Duff was lashed to a tree,
and the chief, Kai Kora, decided to inflict summary punish-
ment, by spearing him at once. This decision would have
J.P„ who shortly
been carried into effect but for the Europeans, who by this
time had assembled, and insisted that the prisoner should
be given up to the nearest magistrate. A message was ac-
cordingly despatched for G. eane, Esq., afterwards arrived, and they test intelligence at of the Randolph's departure was, the time
that Duff was kept in
custody.°

WILLS,—The will of the late Lord Hoy-
mour was only proved in the London Court oy nS the
29th ult. It contains many peculiarities. The will, bearin
date June 19th, has accompanying it no less than 19 otherg
testamentary documents, the whole written in the French
language. There are executors appointed separately for
England and for Prance, those for England being Richard
Wallace and Edgar Disney. The personalty in England
was sworn under £BO,OOO. After making bequests of several
legacies and annuities, he leaves a certain reversionary inte-
rest to the London Lunatic Asylum. The residue of his per-
sonal estate he bequeaths to the hospitals of Paris and London
--and such part of his succession as may fall to the hospitals
at Paris is to be untransferable. The testator directs that
his favourite horses are to be kept free from work and
well fed. His chief groom, he states, will be able to carry
out his intentions ; and ample funds are provided for that
Purpose. The will and codicil of Sir Tatton Sykes were
proved in London by the Rev. Sir Henry Foulis, Bart., and
the testator's son, C. Sykes, the executors. The personalty
was sworn under £120,000, The testator died on the 21st of
March last, having executed his will on the 6th July, 1847,
added a codicil on the 30th of October, 1861. The late Sir
Tat a
succeeded to the baronetc and the Sledm ere estate
m 1823. Re attained
hth.e age ofy 91, and is succeeded in
the title and estates b is eldest son, the present Sir Tat-
ton Sykes. The persy
the testator has made°heity—except certain parts which
ooooms, and some complimentary
legacies and a sum of £lorl
Sykes—he has bequeathed oto the present Sir Tatton
Illustrated News, among his younger children,—

The following is an extract from a private letter,
dated Washington, May 8 :
" You are no doubt anxious to hear in regard to the
great battle that has just been fought. I can only say,
the same practice heretofore observed by the Govern..
ment in all such cases is done in this, only to a much greater
extent, and that much more to their shame. We have it
announced this morning that the movement towards a new
base is only a failure, not a disaster.'
" It is known in Washington, and publicly admitted by
all parties connected with the army, that this is the most
terrible disaster which has yet happened to the Government.
The fact is, that not one-half of the army will ever get back,
and the loss of artillery and stores is enormous. It will all
come out in due time, but the Government wants to break
the blow by putting out such a despatch as that published
in the morning papers. Never before have such efforts been
made to keep the public from learning the true state of
affairs. Telegraphic offices have been seized, and even cor-
respondents of papers have been detained, when en route,
to carry in person despatches that were refused even in the
mails. The estimated loss of Hooker's army is not less than
25,000 killed and wounded, besides thousands of prisoners
and innumerable pieces of artillery. He was shelled by the
whole Confederate artillery at every point from the time he
started until he reached the other side, and the only artil-
lery saved was that sent over before he crossed. All that
left to protect his crossing and his rear fell into the hands
of the enemy. Whether or not he is being pursued, of
course no one here knows. For anything like particulars
we must await the letters of correspondents. When the
different advocates of the different generals get quarrelling
among themselves, then we will have it all brought out.
You may rest assured of one thing, there will be no further
spring campaign in the east, We are expecting hourly to
hear that Lee is either threatening Washington or has sent
his army to Tennessee to crush Rosecranz, and thus get
possession of Tennessee and Kentucky. The near approach
of the end of the term of enlistment of some 250,000 men is
now the great drawback of Government, and this battle was
fought in hopes of winning it with these very troops before
their term of enlistment expired."
The following is an extract of a letter from an
officer in the Army of the Potomac :
" Dear Brother,—Here we are back again to our old
camp at Falmouth after a raid with 150,000 men across the
Rappahannock—at least what are left of that number we
started with, for the reports this morning are that some
30,000 are missing from all the various corps d'armee.
Well, after six months' careful preparation, General
Hooker came to the conclusion that he had repaired all the
damages of the last defeat at Fredericksburg, re-inspected
the troops, and had, as he said, now got the finest army
on the planet,' and was determined to place it in Rich-
mond within a week at the latest. You are aware that the
term of some 40,000 men of this army expires in May, and,
of course, they could only be made use of by an early
attack upon the enemy. In last week the whole force was
suddenly and quietly put in motin to surprise the rebels,
who, it was said, had only some 30,000 troops at Fredericks-
burg. To effect this, and doubly outflank them, our whole
army crossed in two places, one abut twenty miles above
and one about eight miles below that town. The latter
seems to have, in fact, found but a small force of the enemy
at Fredericksburg (by some it is said not over 10,000 men),
because the heights so strongly and successfully defended
last time were carried without any very serious resistance.
It is probable that General Lee had due notice of the por-
tion of our army that crossed above, but not that below.
This we cannot know, but it is certain that he at once
massed an equal or greater force than ours at Chancellors-
ville ; besides outflanking us by sending General Jackson
to our rear. A fierce and general battle ensued. General
Sigel's German division at the first shock broke and scattered
at once. The rebels rushed in with fury, and our army was
gradually forced back to the bank of the river. As soon as
we began to give way General Lee seems to have trans-
ferred a heavy force to Fredericksburg, which at once
retook the heights, and completely defeated that portion of
our army. So passed that eventful Sunday. Monday but
little fighting was done. Tuesday the same, but it
was evident that the enemy were receiving large
reinforcements. So about noon General Hooker
issued orders to recross the river to our old posi-
tion, and here we are after a complete defeat, which
shows General Lee to be the first General of the age if he
was surprised, and no mean one if he was not, and proves
that his troops are as fierce and brave in attack as resolute
in defence. The immediate results of this battle are diffi-
cult to learn. We have left the whole of our dead and
wounded in possession of the enemy. At the early part of
the first day we took about 2,0`)0 prisoners. The rebels
boast to have taken 5,000. As both sides were at times the
attacking party the loss in killed and wounded may be about
equal—say, 10,000 to 15,000 each; but, as the rebels will
naturally take care of their wounded at first, we may expect
to lose a vast number who might have been saved. It is
said that about 30 guns are missing, while we have captured
five or six of the enemy's. As it is probable that many of
the troops whose time is so nearly cut will desert, it is not
at all unlikely that the army of the Potomac will have lost
some 30,000 men by this stupendous raid across the Rappa-
hannock. The loss of prestige, both in this country and
Europe, by the defeat of an army drilled and prepared with
so much care no one can well estimate. Will France and
England now say that there must be no more of this awful
fratricidal strife ? It will be galling to our pride, yet, per,
haps, may best satisfy both sides."

FLOWERS.

Class 1----15 stove and greenhouse plants, in flower—first
Prize, £2O, Mr, B, Peed, gardenerto Mrs. Treadwell, Nor.
wood.

Class 2-12 stove and greenhouse plants, in flower—first
prize, £l2, Mr. H. Chilman, gardener to Mrs. Smith, Ash-
stead. house, Epsom.
Class 3-8 stove and greenhouse plants, in flower—first
prize £lO, Mr. B. Peed, gardener to Mrs. Treadwell, Nor-
wood.

Class 4-6 stove and greenhouse plants, in flower—firsl
prize £7, Mr. T. Page, gardener to Mr, W. Leaf, Streatham,
Class 5-12 fine foliaged and variegated plants—first
prize, £7, Messrs. J. and 0. Lee, Hammersmith.
Class 6-16 orchids, of exotic species, in flower—first
prizes, £2O each, Mr. R. Bullen, gardener to Mr. A. Turner,
Bow-bridge-house, Leicester; Mr. G. Baker, gardener to
Mr. S. Bassett, Stamford-hill.
C 1458 7-10 orchids of exotic species, in flower—first
prize, £l2, Mr. C. Benny, gardener to Mr. IL H. Gibbs,
Regent's-park.
Class B—Six orchids of exotic species, in flower—first
prize, £7, Mr, J. 'Wiggins, gardener to Mr. W, Beck, Isle-
worth.

Class 9 —Ten greenhouse azaleas—first prize £l4, Mr. C
Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough.
Class 10—Six greenhouse azaleas—first prize £7, Mr. C.
Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough.
Class 11—Eight greenhouse azaleas, new kinds—first
prize £5, Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough.
Class 12—Six Cape heaths—first prize £B, Messrs. T.
Jackson and Son, nurserymen, Kingston.
Class 13—Six tall cacti, species or varieties of, in flower,
large plants-Ist prize £4, Mr. J. Green, gardener to Sir
E. Antrobus, Lower Chasm.
Class 14—Ten roses, distinct kinds, in pots—first prizes
£lO each, Mr. W. Paul, Waltham-cross; Messrs. Land
and Son, Great Berkhatepstead.
Class 15—Ten roses, distinct kinds, in pots not exceeding
eight inches in diameter—first prize, Mr. C. Turner, Royal
Nurseries, Slough.
Class 16—Ten pelargoniums, distinct varieties, in pots
not exceeding eight inches in diameter—first prize, £lO,
Mr. T. Bailey, gardener to Mr. T. D. Drake.
Class I7—Six pelargoniums, distinct varieties, in pots
not exceeding eight inches in diameter—first prize, £5, Mr.
J. Shrirapton, gardener to Mr. A. J. Doxat, Putney-heath.
Class 18—Six fancy pelargoniums, distinct varieties, in
pots not exceeding eight inches in diameter—first prize, £5;
Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough.
Class 19—Seedling pelargoniums, 1862—first prize, £1;
Mr. G. W. Hoyle, Sidney-villas, Reading, " Diadem."
Class 20—Single specimen of newly-introduced extremely
rare or beautiful plants, in or out of flower, hardy or exotic—
first prize,inchesindXiasra,eMter Mr. H. Parker, Exotic Nursery, Tooting.
Class 21-6 plants of cinerarias, in pots not exceeding 11
third prize, £l, Mr. W. Reid, gardener
to Mr. J. Hunt, Sydenham-hill,
Class 22-6 Plants of calceolarias, in pots not exceeding
11 inches in diameter--fret prize, £2 105., Mr, J. James,
gardener to Mr. W. F. Watson, Isleworth.
Class 23--Miscellaneous—first prize, £2, Mr. H. Levey
gardener to Mr. E. A, Grave, Fotcham (ferns).
Class 24-24 Tulips,CUT FLOWERS.
dissimilar—first prize, £2, Mr. J.
Hunt, High Wycombe, Bucks.
Class 25-24 Verbenas, three trusses of each variety—
first prize, £2, Mr. IV. 11. Treen, Victoria Nursery, Rugby.
FRUIT.
Class A—Pineapples, single fruit of any kind—first prize,

One of the most brilliant flower-shows of the
season, both as regards the display of plants
and the number and rank of visitors, was held
at Norwood on Saturday. Every care had
been bestowed in the choice and arrangement
of the exotics to make this the most successful
display of the year, and the interest with which it
was looked forward to was considerably heightened
when it transpired, as, of course, it soon did, that
their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of
Wales had signified their intention of visiting the
collection during the early part of the day. Great
preparations were accordingly made at the Palace
to celebrate the honour of this visit with becoming
ceremony and display. Tne superb suite of rooms
at the north end of the building, fitted up exclu-
sively for the use of Royalty on such occasions, and
which have unfortunately been for so long a time
unvisited, were put in thorough order, and in the
dining-room a magnificent dejeuner was laid, the
table ornamented with the finest small specimens of
rare exotics from the show, and the beautiful porce-
lain service made for the use of the Queen brought
out on this occasion. Unfortunately, beyond
evincing the loyal anxiety of the management to do
every possible honour to their illustrious visitors,
all these preparations were thrown away. On
Saturday morning a letter was received from Gen.
Knollys, expressing the Prince's regret that the
unavoidable postponement of the departure of the
Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse till three in the
afternoon would prevent either himself or the Prin-
cess of Wales having the pleasure of seeing the
show. The letter also expressed the thanks of their
Royal Highnesses for the trouble which they knew
had been taken to receive them, and their intention
of avaiiing themselves of the first opportunity of
visiting the Palace. It is, perhaps, on the whole not
to be regretted that the Princess of Wales did not for
the first time see the building on a flower-show day;
when the whole length of the nave, from end to
end, is dwarfed and hidden by a very useful, bat most
unornamental screen of canvass hung at a short
height from the floor to protect the flowers. This
screen of course utterly hides the glass roof above, and
makes the unequalled view down the centre as un-
imposing as it is possible to make any view in such
a building. When her Royal Highness does pay a
visit we hope the screens may be removed from end
to end, that she may see at once the whole interior
of a structure, the like of which for height, extent,
and singular beauty is not to be found in any other
part of the world. Though it was known in the
Palace that their Royal Highnesses could not pay
their intended visit, the news of the disappointment
did not transpire outside the building, where down
the hill and pretty roads the belles of Norwood and
Dulwich mustered in considerable numbers waiting
to see their Royal Highnesses pass. Their patience
lasted them late enough to see most of the long
cavalcade of carriages passing to the show,—a sight
which, though well enough in its way, was not ex-
actly calculated to console them for the disappoint.
ment of that which they came forth to see.
The flower show was arranged as it always is at
the Crystal Palace, which is saying a great deal in
a few words, for it means the very perfection of
artistic display. While the arrangement of classes
was scrupulously adhered to, the position of every
individual plant was chosen as much as possible with
reference to its form and colour, and all were so
skilfully ranked, so artistically intermixed with
vases and statues, that the whole length of the nave
presented on either side snch a varied yet continu-
ous array of beautiful grouping as we have seldom
seen even at Norwood. In front of the orchestra,
surmounting a magnificent group of flowers, was
shown, for the first time, Mr. Marshall Wood's bust
of the Prince, which has just been completed from
sittings given by his Royal Highness; and facing
this was one of the finest and most beautifully
grouped banks of ferns and statues that it is
possible to imagine. The show was especially
strong in azaleas, which were exhibited in all
their rare and beautiful varieties—masses of white
bloom, like piles of newly fallen snow, white
and red—red purple, and one magnificent plant
of the richest mauve. Of orchids there was one
of the finest collections ever shown—rare in
their colours, wild and eccentric in their shapes, an
extraordinary blending in appearance of animal and
vegetable, as though plants were about to change
themselves to moths and May flies. There was a
small, but most rare, show of plants of variegated
foliage, with leaves and stalks pencilled in such
colours as put most other groups to shame. The air
was heavy with the fragrance of the roses, and the
rich green of the heaths seemed absolutely to
sparkle with blooms of every hue. There was a fine
bank of hot, thirsty weird-looking cacti, so sugges-
tive of the wild, ardent luxuriance of the tropics;
and nearly one side of the nave was occupied with
great masses of pelargonium& of every hue. The
show of fruit for this early season was of great merit
more especially the pines; though the grapes looked
small after the magnificent samples from Stanmore
Priory which we are accustomed to see sweep away
all the chief pi izes at the Horticultural. Where all
distinguished themselves with such success it would
be almost invidious to mention names of growers ;
and we are fortunately relieved of this responsibility
by the prize list, which distinguishes the best
where all were so good that the judges had more
than their usual difficulty in making the awards.
The following contains the names of the chief prize•
takers in the most important classes.—