THE DATS OF THE BUSHRANGER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 15

THE DATS OF THE BUSHRANGER.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln a recent issue of the "Star" a writer refers to Frank Gardiner, an •rstwhile knight of the road in Australia, as having been at one time in the ■Siutli Island of New Zealand. Such, however, is not the case. He was born at Boro Creek, Goulburn, N.S.W., in 1830. He -was indicted under the name of Francis Gardiner, .Christianas Clarke. ?For several "years he kept a great part of the country in terror, aided by a gang of ruffians, the principal of whom were Elberi and Dunn. Six mail rob Series were committed by the gang, the most memorable-being the gold escort from the Lachlan, at Gugarra, in 1562, when several thousand ounces of god were stolen, Co notables Middleton r.nd Hosier being shot. For two years he evaded the police, and kept a store on Apis Creek, on the road from Rockhampton to the Peak Downs. Here in 1564 he was captured by Constables Pye, McElhone and Wells in the month of February. He was tried and convicted I'ofore the then Chief Justice, Sir Alfred Stephen, and sentenced to a total of 32 years' hard labour. He was released in 1874, after serving ten years, on condition that he left the colony. He went to America, where he died many years ago. Dunn, his partner, was captured et Marthowguy Creek, near Dubbo, by Constables McHall, Elliott- and Hawthorn, Dunn shooting McHall in the leg. Dunn was hanged in Darlinghurst gaol on "December 24, 1864, and this ended' the career of these desperados.—l am, etc., FIREFLY.