The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-09
NEW ZEALAND.
Gloomy nnd DiscOuraging PrOspcct-HOrribl,
Massacre of settlers by the Natives -HypO
cTisy of the MuOris.

Gloomy nnd DiscOuraging PrOspcct-HorribIc
massacre of settlers by the Nntivcs-HypO-
crisy of the MuOris.
Correspondence from Wellington New Zea-
land dated March %, has just been received.
From it we CLEAN the following
On the West Coast affairs are yet more
gloomy and discouraging. Another horrible
massacre of settlers has taken place as cowardly
brutal and revolving as that which occurred a
few months ago on the East Coast, though,
fortunately the victims are fewer in number.
The scene OF the present tragedy is White Cliffs,
asmall settlement in the Taranaki district only
some twelve or fourteen miles from the town of
Taranaki. Through the friendly natives full
particulars of the manner in which the murders
were committed have been received. A party
of the Maors, headed by chief named Te We
teri, who has hitherto been regarded as neutral
in the war, came to the cliffs in broad day
light Only two of the Europeans were at the
blockhouse, and as they suspected no unfriendly
design on the part of their visitors they were
easily induced to go down to the beach and look
ut some pigs which the Maoris stated they had
brought for sale Both of the unfortunate men
were tomahawked and killed. Shortly after
wards Lieutenant Gascoigne, his wife and chill
dren, who had been working in the field of corn
and potatoes, came up to the redoubt The
Maoris met the lieutenant with great cordialty,
and they ali shook hands with him, but as he
was raising his hand to open his door he was
struck from behind with tOmahawk and killed.
Mrs. Gascoigne and her three children were
despatched in the same manner. The remain
ing victim, the Rev. j. Whitley, a Wes-
leyan missionary, was met as he was APP
preaching the settlement and was or
dered to return forthwith to Taranaki On
refusing to do this he shot dead, five bullets
having been subsequently found in his body.
The work of murder having been accomplished,
Weteri and his followers burned the block
house and the redoubt, and retired to the inte-
rior The following day settler named Nc
Donald passed the scene of the massacre and
rode into Taranaki and gave information to the
authorities A party was Mt once sent out to col
lect the bodies, the usual inquest was held, and
the usual verdict returned Or the day of the
funeral all the banks and stores of Taranaki
were closed, and the settlers turned ont en-
mdSSe as mourners. A monument is to be
erected, by subscription in memory of the un-
fortunate settlers.
The Rev. John Whiteley was by far the most
prominent of the victims, and the apparent re-
luctance of the rebels to kill him is easily ac-
counted for. This gentleman has labored as u
missionary in New Zealand ever since the year
1883. long before the first settlement of whites
| was established. His name stands out very con-
spicuously in the early history of the Maori mis-
! sion, and apart from his efforts to convert the
natives, he did great deal of good in endeavor-
| ing to teach them the arts of peace. He was
sixteen years at Kawhia and while there ac-
| quired such influence among the WailIato tribes
| as enabled him on one occasion to induce them
| to liberate the Taranakis, whom they had cap
tured in war and retained as slaves. In the
| native wars and feuds he was frequently ap-
| pointed arbiter, so great was, Mt one time, the
confidence of the natives in the integrity of his
| character.