The Portland daily press., 1872-04-12
New Zealand Shocking In.
cidents.

~-------N~~-~S~~>
cidents.
The trial of New Zealand chief for the
murder of two Europeans is thus described
in a local paper, the Hawe's Bay Herald:
On Monday, 18th of December, the trial of
Kereopa was commenced before the resident
magistrate at Napier. The courthouse be-
ing too small to hold all the persons who
wished to be present, after the information
was read the court adjourned to the council
chamber, when several witnesses gave evi-
dence. Pihana Tiwhai sworn, deposed:
live at Opotiki. I know the prisoner Isaw
him at Opotik in March, 1865. / saw him
and Patara. The prisoner had basket with
him. found that there was Europeans
head in it. The first words that heard him
say were, "Frends, this Is a word from my
God to you: If any minister or other Euro
pean comes to this place do not protect him;
he must die! die dier' Patara said next,
81 am come to bring the new God to you.
This Is the true God If minister or Euro
pean comes within these boundaries he shall
not be spared" l know Mr.. Volkner. He
arrived about five days after Kereopa and Pa
tara had come to Opotiki. He came by YES
sci. The vessel came up the river and lay
close against the bank. As soon as the YES
sci came alongside, the Taranaki natives tied
up the Europeans, Mr.. Volkner and Mr..
Grace, and led them away to the Jail. saw
the whole transaction-I mean by the Taran-
aki natives, Kereopa and Patara, and those
that came with him. Next thing saw was
Mr.. Volkner being led away. could not see
who the native was that was leading him;
was too far of. 1t was one OF the Taranaki
natives. My wife said to me, Don't follow
them; they are putting Mr.. Volkner to
DEATH" / went away to mill near. In the
evening / returned was told that Mr..
Volkner was killed, and was shown where
his body was. The body had on black trous-
ers, boots, and white shirt. There was no
head on it. l asked Kereopa to let me have
me have the body, to bury it. He said, let
the fowls of the air and reptiles Of the earth
eat it. saw Mr.. Volkner's head, and that
OF another European, afterwards, at Opotiki,
In tent.
Z. Pima Pono, among other evidence, said
When Kereopa arrived it was dinner time,
and he lwitness) heard Kereopa say that
''Mr. Volkner was to be given up, killed, and
eaten" On the following day they all as
| sembled in the church. 1 was in the house
and saw Kereopa in the pulpit with war
| club in his hand. Then heard him say tnat
| Mr. Volkner should die ON this day, and tnat
his ewes should be eaten, and II any one re-
fused to obey his orders he would cut their
4 heads off; his tribe would De destroyed and
! their houses burnt. The same day Kereopa
said ssGo and fetch Mr.. Volkner." The sol
| d;ers then went out, and 1 followed them.
afferward saw the soldiers who had Mr..
| Volkner in their charge. l stopped outside
| the church. L saw the soldiers hand Mr..
| Mr.. Volkners head into the church. His
head was wrapped in calico. saw the blood
oozing out of the calico. At this time Kere-
opa was in the church. Kereopa carried the
head about, telling them not to be frightened
to eat it. He said that the whole of the tribe
WIN refused to eat part of the head would be
destroyed.
Another witness said: Mr.. Volkner was
brought to the church. After the talk was
done there, he was led off to be hung. Kere-
! opa gave orders to take him to tree and
hang him. The last / saw of Mr.. VolkneI
was when he was being led to tree. l went
to my plantation. When l returned Mr.