The following, which was re-published from the Wanganui Times, in the Wellington Independent of July 9, 1868, is an account of the slaughter, by order of Dr. Featherston, then Superintendent of the Province of Wellington, of some 400 out of 1500 sheep, belonging to a Mr. Gotty, given in charge of Ngatiraukawa, on a portion of the Manawatu Rangitikei block, before judgment on the question of title was given by the Native Lands Court:—

"Extraordinary reports reached town yesterday of fighting at Manawatu. On Dr. Featherston's arrival at Rangitikei, a meeting of natives was convened, when he wrote to Nepia and Mr. Gotty, requesting them to have the sheep removed. No attention was paid to this letter by Mr. Gotty, and so Governor Hunia was told to have the sheep driven off, if Mr. Gotty refused to remove them. The Ngatiapa ultimately commenced to drive the sheep off, and were attacked by the Ngatiraukawa. A shindy ensued, and some broken heads were the consequence, but nobody was much hurt. On Sunday morning, thirty Ngatiapas on foot, and twelve on horseback, crossed the river. A few of them carried tomahawks, to cut down the fences of the paddock in which the sheep were penned. On approaching the paddock, the Ngatiraukawa came out, both men and women, and defied the Ngatiapa to dare to advance. The Ngatiapa did advance, and then there was another small fight, one or two slight cuts being inflicted on a few of the belligerents. While this was going on, the sheep were driven into an adjoining bush, and both parties to the quarrel commenced to fence them in. Then from each side there were violent threats, and on Sunday evening Governor Hunia sent to say that he would pitch his tents on the prohibited spot, and both parties commenced to prepare for the coming contest."