High-Speed Chase First

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 8

High-Speed Chase First

Lead On Escapers

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 31.

After a high-speed chase after a stolen utility vehicle and an intensive search of broken country near Ruawaro, seven miles from Huntly, police today failed to find a man believed to be one of the four who escaped from Auckland Prison on Tuesday morning.

Today’s incidents gave the police their first lead on the whereabouts of any of the escapers.

The police believe the man they are seeking at Ruawaro is Frank Matich, aged 24. The others who escaped with him were George Wilder, aged 25, Patrick Wiwarena, aged 25, and Reuben Rawhinata Awa, aged 20.

A Panmure woman saw the utility vehicle being pushed backwards down the driveway of the bouse next door about 2.30 un. today. She thought the man with the vehicle was her next-door neighbour so the theft was not reported until four hours later when it was learned that the keys had been left iu the vehicle. At 4.30 a.m. the utility vehicle crashed through two road blocks 30 miles south of Auckland. The chase began from a road block at the Waikato bridge, Tuakau, 10 minutes later. Constable F. J. Blackburn, of Tuakau. had just pulled up in his late-model car when he saw the utility vehicle following him across the bridge. "It had no lights,” he said. “We shouted to it to stop, but it drove off towards Pukekawa.” With Constable L. Mackenzie, of Auckland, Constable Blackbum gave chase and the two vehicles reached speeds up to 70 miles an hour on the winding roads through Pukekawa, Glen Murray. Naike, around the top of Lake Whangape and through Ruawaro to the road leading to Mr I L. Broughton’s 700-

acre sheep farm. Six miles from Huntly, the utility vehicle doubled back on its tracks and constable Blackburn saw the driver at close quarters He thought it was Awa. After racing several mile* along Broughton’s rood, which winds over hills, the utility vehicle continueJ along *n unmetalled farm track for two miles until it reached a high hill at the back erf the property. On its dash along this track it crashed through two farm gates, shattering the timber, aod kitting a sheep sleepcog on the track. Ait the back of the Broughton farm, toe driver abandoned toe utility vehicle and disappeared into an area of timbered gullies and outcrops of weathered Limestone rock which provide excellent natural cover.

Mr I. Broughton heard the two vehicles speed past his house at 5 a.m. but he thought they were rabbifters. Senior-Sergeant P. Goines took charge of toe ensuing search and organised a patrol that checked all the mines in the area for signs of Awa, who once worked in the Renown mine and has relatives in toe district.

Superintendent H. O. L. Hansen, officer in charge of the Hamilton palace district, and other police officers went to the acene this afternoon and the search force was increased to 50 men and two

dogs. The police are not yet certain whether there is any connexion between the utility vehicle theft and the theft of some pies and milk battles from outside a shop at Onehunga ait 2.30 a.m. today.