Hamilton. — On a Massacre at Otago Heads in 1817. 143 



Tucker, with the remaining two (Dutton and Wallou) were 

 also seized, but got out of the mob and ran to the boat, 

 where they found the man Eobinson, who had charge, reel- 

 ing on the beach from a wound in the head. Thinking it 

 impossible that any of the rest could escape, they immedi- 

 ately launched the boat. In the meantime Mr. Kelly was 

 engaged in a dreadful contest with the natives, and, luckily 

 having about him a new billhook, he miraculously effected 

 his escape, being only speared through the left hand, after 

 wounding his principal opponent on the head. In escaping 

 through the gate of the yard Mr. Kelly saw Veto lying on 

 the ground, but did not see Griffiths any more. The feelings 

 of Mr. Kelly on reaching the beach under such circumstances, 

 at the moment of the boat being launched, may be better con- 

 ceived than described. Tucker was still on the beach. Dut- 

 ton, Wallon, and Eobinson were in the boat, backing her out 

 of the surf. Mr. Kelly made the boat, and was dragged by 

 her through the surf, calling on Tucker to follow, who, how- 

 ever, W'Ould not attempt to do so till too late, a number of 

 savages immediately rushing down on the beach armed with 

 spears and hatchets. Tucker kept calling to them not to hurt 

 Wioree, but, regardless of his entreaties, he was speared in the 

 right thigh by the man wdaom Mr. Kelly had wounded on the 

 head, and who was then covered with blood, and immediately 

 knocked down in the surf, where Mr. Kelly and his three 

 men in the boat saw the unhappy Wioree cut limb from limb 

 and carried away by the savages, having only had time to 

 utter, ' Captain Kelly, for God's sake, don't leave me.' 



" Mr. Kelly and his three men before mentioned now re- 

 turned to his vessel, and found on board a number of natives 

 of the village they had first visited on the previous day. 

 Those natives, on Mr. Kelly getting on board the brig, 

 pretended to be very friendly and asked what had become 

 of Tucker, Griffiths, and Peter Viole, as they missed them 

 out of the boat. On being told that they were killed by the 

 natives on the opposite side of the river, and that Mr. Kelly 

 and Eobinson were v»^ounded, they became very much excited 

 (there being at the time about a hundred and fifty natives 

 on board, the decks, rigging, tops, and yards were full of 

 them). Mr. Kirk, the mate of the brig, said to Mr. Kelly, 

 ' They are going to take the vessel from us.' Mr. Kelly im- 

 mediately called all his men to quarters, and formed a solid 

 square on the quarterdeck under the main boom. Their 

 head chief, whose name was Corockar,''' called to his men to 



* Coroekar = Karaka. There have been several chiefs of this name 

 amongst tlie ^laorisof this part. The present llaoris seem to know some- 

 thing of this or a similar incident, but are not clear as to the localities. 



