The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-02-12
Misee1laMenns.
From the Neao Zealand Herald, Non. IA.
Horrible .NaSSaCEse,

s~eS ehA~ocoNEts
THE KILLING OF WHITE WOMEN AND CHILL
DREN BY THE NATIVES OF NEW ZEALAND
AT POVERTY BAY.
Never has it fallen to our lot to chronicle
a more painful a more disastrous event
than happened on Tuesday morning last at
Matawhero, near Turnaganui, in Poverty
Bay. Tales of bloodshed, rapine, and VIC
lence have lately become so rife that it is
no common event which could produce the
startling effects which the news received
yesterday by the steamer Lord ASHER has
done but an attack of such an unprovok-
ed nature upon peaceful settlement, the
wholesale night massacre of men, women,
and children, surprised in their sleep, butch
cred In cold blood, with such horrible ac-
compartments of cruelty and teachery, has
perhaps not been equalled since some of
the worst episodes in the Sepoy mutiny in
Bengal curdled the blood of Europe with
their unheard-of atrocities. Every week
seems to add to the catalogue of crimes
with which the name of Hauhauism is as
ISOLATED, and their last deed seems to ex-
coed in horror anything they have hitherto
done. Gaining in confidence by their sue
cesses in various quarters, they seem fairly
to have commenced their plan ofattempted
determination, and few more nights work
like that of Tuesday last will place the
East coast at their entire disposal. From
the lips of a lady who provfdentially es-
capped from the midst of fire and sword, and
arrived in Auckland by the Lord ASHER
yesterday morning, we have heard the har-
rowing particulars of this blood-stained
story-a red day forever in the annals OF
the colony. The settlement attacked is
called Matawhero, and is situated about
six miles above Turanganui, the port for
the settlers of the district, and the spot
where Captain Cook first landed in New
Zealand.
Although no immediate danger was APP
pretended, party of scouts had been fol-
some time patrollipg around the outskirts
of the settlement, all picked men, and un-
der the command of Mr.. Gascoigne. Around
and beyond the settlement were several
sheep stations, as far as Wharngahika upon
which were living those in charge of them
with stock-keepers, &c. Captain Bloom
fields house and that of Major Biggs were
a few minutes walk apart, and were situa-
ted at Matawhero. Captain Bloomfield
but lately died, and his widow was residing
in the house, but lately built at a cost OF
81 900, with her four children, asister, and
Miss Parker, who, with little brother, was
on visit, and boy servant. About 8
o'clock on Tuesday morning boy named
Charlie James, servant at Major Biggs'
house, came to Mrs. Bloomield's house
breathless, and woke up the boy, telling
him that the Hauhaus were attacking Ma
jor Biggs' house, and numbering the family,
and that Major Riggs was Killed. The
whole household was at once aroused, and
the three ladies, not having time to dress,
wrapped a few shawls and cloaks around
themselves and the children, and leaving
the house, fled for their lives across the flats
in the direction of Turanganui accompan-
led by the two boys. On looking back af-
ter leaving their home the house of Mr..
Wilson, distant five minutes walk, was OBJ
served to be on fire. After more than an
hour OF exposure and great exertion, the
party arrived at the redoubt at Turanganui
about five A. NJ, and were the first to con-
vey the dreadful news to the people there,
who had only heard some firing and did
not know any particulars of what was go
ing on. Upon their arrival they found the
schooner Tawera had just left the port, but
Captain Read at once manned boat and
pulled off to her, and she at once returned
to port. The schooner Success also put
back, and the ketch Eagle came in during
that afternoon and at once communicated
with tile shore.
Shortly after the arrival of Mrs. Bloom
field and party at the Redoubt, parties of
refugees began to drop in, each of them
having escaped by marvel, and all with
some tale of horror to relate.
The boy Charles James thus relates the
attack upon the house of Major Biggs. He
says that about 3 o'clock on Tuesday morn
ing the Major was awakened by noise
outside the house, and imagining it to be
caused by the return of some of the scouts,