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The three New Zealanders who were picked up at sea by the Achilles, were examined and were remanded till Monday.
August 24, 1837.

ACCIDENTS, OFFENCES, &c.

      The three New Zealanders who were picked up at sea by the Achilles, were examined by Colonel Wilson on Thursday. The only evidence against them was Captain Lee, who deposed falling in with the boat at sea on the 1st May, with the New Zealanders in it, all three of them were wounded, but two of them very badly. The New Zealanders were asked if they would make any statement, and through their interpreter Mr. Fulloon, made a statement to this effect: — Their names are Teapati, Tyapao, and Tetarroo; they shipped some time since on board the American whaler Ploughboy, at the Bay of Islands. While they were at sea, a boat's crew of which Tetarroo formed one, was sent after a whale, and just as they had got alongside of it Tetarroo made a noise with his oar, by what is technically called "catching a crabb," which frightened the whale and it went down. When the boat returned on board, the Captain was so enraged, that he loaded a gun to fire at Tetarroo, who escaped down the side of the vessel into the boat; Teapati and Tyapoo escaped up the rigging, when the Captain fired at them; Teapati fell overboard, and Tyapoo fell into the boat, which they immediately cast off, and picking up Teapati escaped. Tetarroo also stated, that when they fell in with the Clarkstone whaler, at sea, a New Zealander that was on board told him that the Captain of the Ploughboy, about two years before, shot a white man at the mast head. He also said, that when he (Tetarroo)joined the ship, he was hauling a rope when the Captain told him to make fast, and upon his not doing so because he did not understand what he meant the Captain struck him in the back with a knife, and he shewed a large scar in his back which he said was caused by the wound. Intelligence has been received from the Bay of Islands that the New Zealanders on board the Ploughboy had murdered five white men, and then made their escape. They were remanded till Monday. Mr. Williams, the American Consul, attended the examination.


— The Sydney Herald (Monday 28 August 1837) Page 2.     

Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, Jun 11, 2023