3-017-124 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The murder of a missionary by the Maoris in New Zealand: scene of the murder of Rev. Volkner, 1865. 'The war of races which has been going on for two or three years past...does not seem likely to arrive at a speedy termination... The hideous superstition now prevailing, which takes the name of the "Pai Marire" from the Virgin Mary, of whom they [ie the Maori] have heard from a French Catholic missionary...is held to sanctify the commission of any crime or offence...the Maoris had all taken an oath the day before to kill every minister or soldier who came there...They then told [Mr Volkner the German missionary] that they were going to kill him. He stopped near the church and asked them to allow him five minutes for prayer, which they did...Whilst he was praying they sent and took a block and strop from the vessel, which they made fast to the topmost branches of a large willow-tree, about 200 yards from the church. There were now about 800 natives on the ground, who at once marched him under the tree...The poor fellow commenced shaking hands with many of them while they were tying his neckerchief over his eyes; and he even had hold of some of their hands whilst they were hauling him to the fatal branch'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.