The Sun. — 1865-05-16 (London, England)

MURDER OF A MISSIONARY IN NEW ZEALAND.— The following telegram from Sydney, dated March 25, has been published by a contemporary :—" New. Zealand news to the 11th has been received. Ohantaki has been captured ; 15 of the enemy were killed and 80 taken prisoners. The Pai Marini natives at Opotiki have taken and destroyed the schooner Eclipse, murdered the Rev. M. Volkner, and eaten his brains and eyes. They have taken the Rev. Mr. Grace, Dr. Agassy, and Capt. prisoners." A second despatch, dated Sydney, March 27, is in corroboration of the first :—" The friendly natives have taken Ohantaki and several important chiefs prisoners. John Williams was killed in the attack. The Pai Marini fanatics have visited Opotiki, hung and beheaded the Rev. M. Volkner, abandoned by and vainly calling upon his flock for aid. They scooped out and ate his brains. A fanatic priest ate his eyes. M. Volkner died calmly, praying. The treasurer's budget at Sydney has been postponed,"  The whole of North Lancashire has been startled to-day by the announcement of the suicide of Mr. William Whelon, a gentleman of high position, and carrying on business at Lancaster and Preston, through pecuniary difficulties and the fear of exposure. Mr. Whelon rose from a poor office-boy to be secretary of the Little North-Western Railway ; then he became a merchant and manufacturer ; afterwards he was made town councillor, mayor, and magistrate of Lancaster. While Mayor of Lancaster he was distinguished for his liberality and hospitality, and his wife, during his year of office, was presented with a silver cradle by the inhabitants. In addition to the above positions, he was chairman of the Lancaster Athenaaum Club and the Morecambe Gas-works, vice-chairman and director of the New Waggon Company, a churchwarden, a leading Conservative, and generally a man of high influence and position. On Friday he was at Preston on business, and returned home in the evening. On Saturday it was rumoured that he had forged and embezzled sums to a very large amount, varying according to report from £6,000 to £20,000. On the evening of that day a warrant was issued for his apprehension on the charge of stealing scrip belonging to the Little North-Western Railway. The police went to his house, but he was absent. An officer was sent to Preston, where it was thought he might have gone, but he could not be found. Yesterday his dead body was found in the water at Fleetwood.  The inquest on the body was held to-day. The evidence given showed that he left home on Saturday evening in good health and spirits, that he walked along the coast towards Fleetwood, that at midnight he got a boat at Knott-end, opposite Fleetwood, and about 10 miles from Lancaster rowed out a short distance in it, took something to drink, and jumped off the boat into deep water ; that his body was seen floating about yesterday morning off Fleetwood by a seaman, and was afterwards picked up and taken to one of the hotels. The jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned." The deceased gentleman was about 43 years of age, and he has left a widow and seven children. It is said that his embarrassments had reference mainly to the Little North-Western Railway, of which he was the secretary.