4JM ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chaf. XV. 
Calm weather and light winds kept us two days 
more between Kapiti and TVanganui, only fifty-seven 
miles. ;.( ;. vftt 
Mr. Carrington established himself in a house near 
thejoa at Putikiwaranui, and commenced the survey 
on both sides of the river by cutting the necessary lines 
through the high fern along the banks. 
A boat from Wellington on its way to this place 
having been wrecked, near the mouth of the Turukina 
river, a week or two before my arrival, I proceeded 
thither along the beach, accompanied by the Reverend 
Mr. Mason and E Kuru. The few natives who lived 
on the banks of that river had plundered the wreck, and 
there was some suspicion that foul play had been prac- 
tised on the unfortunate crew, consisting of four per- 
sons. Three bodies had been found near the plundered 
boat by two White men who walked to Wellington 
shortly after the event, one of them with the head 
separated from the trunk ; and they had buried the 
bodies and carried the news to Wellington. We pro- 
ceeded to a settlement about a mile inland, where we 
found some natives cutting the sails and ropes into 
shapes suitable for their own canoes. They also pro- 
duced some chests, containing clothes, books, and letters, 
which led me to identify the passengers in the boat ; 
but refused to give anything up without ample pay- 
ment. They told us that the more valuable portion of 
the cargo had been carried far up the river or to Ran- 
gitikei by another set of natives ; and declared that 
the bodies had been washed on shore dead, and that 
the absent natives had mutilated one of the corpses as 
described. These natives professed to be mihanere, or 
converted Christians ; but Mr. Mason could not per- 
suade them to give up their plunder. E Kuru was 
very indignant at their conduct, and regretted that they 
