“The Press” In 1866

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30982, 11 February 1966, Page 10

“The Press” In 1866

February 12 THE ESCAPED PRISONERS.—Mr. Buller, R. M. returned last night from his expedition into the Tararua ranges, after an absence of ten or twelve days: and as nothing whatever was seen of tne fugitive prisoners in that quarter, we may conclude that the remaining thirty-eight are still on the wooded hills in the vicinity of Wellington. Having mustered about twenty native volunteers from different tribes, Mr. Buller rode across the country from Rangitikei to the Upper Manawatu, and then entered the bush on foot. The men were sworn in as special constables, and armed—not that much resistance was

anticipated from the prisoners, but because it was likely that they had taken refuge in one of the Hau-hau settlements, in which case a resort to force would have been necessary. Dividing his small force into two parties he sent one of them into the Tirohanga ranges, and proceeded himself with the other to the gorges of the Manawatu. They explored the wooded ranges over a circuit of about forty miles, crossing all the old war paths (almost obliterated by age) and examining the mountain passes. There were tracks of wild pigs innumerable, and legions of mosquitoes, but no sign —not even a footprint—of a Hau-hau.