LIKE BUSHRANGER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 303, 22 December 1943, Page 6

LIKE BUSHRANGER

GARAGE TO GARAGE MAORI'S RAIDS ON CARS (0.C.) WHANGAREI, this day. From December 10 to 19 he was at large, living on the country and being like a bushranger in conduct, said Senior Sergeant Henderson of William Tewake, of Towai, who at Whangarei to-day was sentenced to a year's imprisonment. The justices commented that his list of crime was the most extensive to come before the local Court for years, if not a record. With William Paul (18), Tewake was jointly charged Avith converting five cars at various places throughout Northland, and with theft of kerosene, tobacco, cutlery, food, benzine and drums. Separately Tewake was charged Avith the theft of two cars at Maromaku. Senior Sergeant Henderson said on December 11 Tewake with a companion took a car from the garage of Mr. E. V. Rails, at Towai. Damaging this on a railway crossing they took Mr. L. Stretton's car from the schoolhouse shed, pushing it out of the gate, but being unable to start it. They damaged the wiring, as they did also with an Army truck left in the school grounds. Walking to Akerama they took Mr. Wenzl Russek's car from an open shed, driving it north until they capsized it over a bank near BroadAvood,- causing £75 worth of damage. Unhurt, they hid in the bush- until nightfall when they secured a car and kerosene from Mr, Peter MacKenzie's garage at Ahipara. On the Ninety Mile Beach the car became bogged in sand and caught by the tide. Assisted by natives they retrieved the vehicle, but Avere unable to start it and abandoned it after doing £65 worth of damage. At Mr. John Morrison's garage, Pukepoto, they found another car complete with ignition sAvitch and a tin of benzine. Motoring south they took 16 gallons of benzine at Tutekehua, and at Towai ran the car into a bank causing £60 Avorth of damage. Taking to the tea-tree, they stole food and tobacco from a pensioner's hut. Paul, who Avas allegedly concerned in the offences, had decided to give himself up and surrendered. TeAvake Avent on to Maromaku, stealing a rifle for Avhich he had ammunition in his possession. Te Avake Avas not heard of until three days later, Avhen it Avas reported that cars belonging to Messrs. Eric Collington and Lawrence Timperley were missing. When arrested he was driving Mr. Timperley's car, slightly damaged, in ihe Hokianga district. He frankly admitted the offences. TeAvake Avas sentenced to three months cumulatively on cases concerning the cars of Messrs. MacKenzie. Morrison, Russek and Stretton. Paul ' remanded to appear in Aucl ' :: .