The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-06 00:00:00

RAILWAY BILLS.

On Monday the North-Eastern and Cleveland Bill
was passed in Lord Redesdale's Committee.

In the Lords' Committees, the West Hartlepool
and Cleveland and North-Eastern (amalgamation)
Bill was continued. In the case of the Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Bill, the manager of the
North-Western (for the opponents) underwent a
long examination. The opposition of the South-
Eastern Railway Company to the Surrey and Sussex
Bill was heard.

In the Commons, group 26, the Launceston, Bod-
min, and Wadebridge Bill was opposed by the
Cornwall Company.
On Tuesday, in the Lords, the Manchester, Shef-
field, and Lincolnshire, the Newport and Usk, and
the Surrey and Sussex Bills were passed ; and in the
Commons, group 26, the Launceston, Bodmin, and
Wadebridge Junction Bill was passed.

Murder of a Missionary in New Zealand,

We have full details by the present mail of the
shocking murder of a missionary, the Rev. Mr.
Volkner, by the natives. The occurrence seems to
have created a very painful feeling in the colony, and
is taken as an indication that the Pai Marini fanati-
cism is spreading fast and assuming a more serious
aspect. A correspondent of the New Zealander,
writing from Camp Te Papa, on March 8, gives the
following particulars, which are corroborated by
other accounts :
" It is very questionable whether I shall succeed
in any attempt to describe to your readers one of
the most horrible and atrocious murders which has
ever been recorded in the annals of the colony, and
though now excited feelings have somewhat subsided
within these 48 hours, still even now I shudder in
attempting to depict the awful tragedy that has been
enacted by a band of the Pai Marini fanatics, led on
in their mad exploits by a savage brutish high priest,
Tiu Kereopo, belonging to the Arawa tribe at
Rotorua. I will not attempt to dwell on any of the
antecedent stories connected with this, and with
Pai Alariri savages, but will leave it for another
occasion, inasmuch as your readers will be all anxiety
to know the particulars of the murder of that good,
faithful, and holy servant of the Gospel, the Rev.
Mr. Volkner, resident missionary belonging to the
Church of England at Ogotiki, who was cruelly and
barbarously murdered at that place on the 2d inst.
It appears that on the arrival of the Pai Marini priest
in the Bay of Plenty he openly declared that he would
not respect the lives or property of the missionaries,
and on reaching Whakatani, the Rev. Father Grange,
R.C., narrowly escaped being murdered by him ;
after their leaving W hakatani and reaching Opotiki
they became so elated with the success and hearty
reception by the Ngatewhaka to hear of their new
faith, that the life of Mr. Volkner was demanded
by the high priest. He was informed that Mr.
Volkner was from home, upon which he caused an
entry to be made into his premises, and everything
sold by auction. This had scarcely been carried
out when the Eclipse schooner hove in sight from
Auckland, and it was not long before it was ascer-
tained that there were European passengers on
board, which caused speculation as to who they
were, but this was soon set at rest ; the tide being
favourable, she crossed the bar and entered the
river, when it was soon spread abroad that the pas-
sengers were the Revs. Messrs. Volkner and Grace.
On this being made known to the high priest he did
not for one moment attempt to ascertain the feel-
ings of the natives, who previous to this had on all
occasions manifested the highest respect for their
clergymen—but, alas ! what a sudden change had
within the last few days taken place in the feelings
of these people, who had now become infatuated
with the power and supreme influence of this vile
wretched imposter, and when he ordered these men
Ito go on board the vessel and fetch these men of
God on shore, they immediately obeyed. In the
meanwhile the priest had obtained a black rope,
which he took to a tree on the mission station, and
having hung it up all ready, he waited till his
victims arrived, and it was not long before they
were marched up to him. He then told the Rev.
Mr. Volkner that he had forfeited his life, and that
he must die, and for that purpose he had been
brought up to that spot, in order to meet his fate.
Mr. Volkner then cried for his tamarakis, that is,
children, to intercede for him ; but, alas, not one
voice was raised in his favour. Seeing that they
were determined to carry their designs out, he
quietly resigned himself to his fate, and only asked
one favour, which was granted to him, and which
was that he might be allowed a few minutes to pray.
After fervently and devoutly pouring out his whole
soul before the throne of divine grace, he rose, took
off his coat and vest, in which was his watch and
£l5 cash, and said, "I am now ready. His hands
and feet were then bound, and the rope having been
placed on his neck, he was hoisted up in the air for
some considerable time, when he was let down, but
life was not extinct. However, the high priest ordered
them to separate the head from the body, which
was no sooner said than done by the use of the axe,
after which an incision was made by a small knife,
in order more carefully to obtain the brains, which
were ordered to be cooked, which only occupying a
few minutes, the high priest came forward, and tak-
ing a small portion in his fingers, prayed over them,
and threw it out to his god ; he then ordered all
present to step forward and partake of the remainder,
which without hesitation was soon devoured by all
the bystanders—men, women, and children. His
eyes were then gouged out and swallowed by the
high priest ; after this, the body of this devoted
Christian minister was opened, and his heart taken
out and was served in the same savage manner. His
body was left on the ground, as prey for the dogs
and pigs, but an insane native became so disgusted
with the sight that he took it away and buried it."
The New Zealand Herald of 11th March gives the
following additional particulars
" It appears that on the seizure of the Eclipse,
the two clergymen, Messrs. Volkner and Grace, the

master, and crew, consisting of four Europeans,

were taken prisoners and placed along with a sol-

dier who was already a prisoner in the hands of the
natives. The captain (Mr. Levy) they at once

released, on account, we are informed, of his be-

Longing to the Jewish religion.

The other prisoners

Were then marched towards Mr. Volkner's residence

at Opotiki. When arrived near a willow tree grow-

ing close by the house, and around which a large
number of the inhabitants of Opotiki were assembled,
they were halted within sight of it, and Mr. Volkner
alone was led by a few of the party towards the tree.

They pointed to a rope hanging over a branch, and
told him they intended to ha 2g him, and requested
him to take off his coat. This he did, believing the
whole affair to be a practical joke. They however
ordered him to take off his waistcoat and his neck-

cloth, which he also did, and, believing now that
their intention was murder, he begged for ten
minutes to prepare himself for death. This request
was granted; yet while he was still upon his knees
praying, the noose was slipped round his neck, the

end of the rope drawn tight, and the man who in all
sincerity and truth had ministered the gospel to
them for years—this man—their friend, their
pastor, their benefactor—was run up to the limb
of the tree as though he had been but a mere ani-
mal.

But now come the brutal and disgusting details
of this horrible affair. The rope was lowered,
though life was not extinct, and as the body came
down a Maori ripped open the bowels of the unfor-
tunate man, tore them out, and threw them to the
Maori dogs which had gathered around ; his heart
also was torn out and passed round the assembled
natives, as many as could cutting small pieces from
it and devouring them. His head was severed from
the body, and carried round by the tohunga or
priest, the natives standing with upturned faces and
gaping lips while it was held over them, that the
blood might drip into their mouths. The head was
then handed to a soldier, who was made to place it
upon a spear and carry his horrible burden. They
then informed Mr. Grace that they would take him
and the other Europeans with them as trophies
through the country, and that when they should
have arrived at his residence they would inflict the
same fate upon him as he had just seen visited on
Mr. Vollmer. The soldier and the crew were in-
formed that their lot would be simply to be knocked
upon the head when they were no longer required.
The other prisoners in the hands of the natives
escaped. Mr. Levy, to whom reference is made in
the above accounts, has published in the newspapers
a diary detailing the whole of the events connected
with the event.