The Sun. — 1863-05-25 (London, England)

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 reliable particulars until Saturday morning, when Captain Davidson, of the schooner Randolph, who had recently arrived 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 occurred 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 punishment, 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 accordingly 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 Hoymour 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,