WELLINGTON.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2675, 12 February 1866, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

Escaped Maori Prisoners.— The body of the Maori which was found in the bush by the police on Tuesday, and put into a sack preparatory to removal, still remains where it was, and there appeara no prospect of its being brought away, the natives declaring now that they know of no pathway by which to bring it. Two of the runaways were caught in the neighbourhood of Porirua yesterday, and brought into town by constable Floyd. They formed a portion of a gang of twelve, who separated from the rest, and went to the house of a settler named Stevens, whom they forced to give them food The two men have been taken to the chief's house, Thorndon, where tho other captured runaways are. The remaining ten of this gang are still at large, but the police are on their track, and expected to have been able to give a good account of some of them yesterday evening. No account of any fresh capture had. reached us up to the hour of going to press. The following account of the proceedings of one party of those who went in pursuit will be found interesting. G. F. Swainson, Esq , Native Commissioner, started from Tawa Flat with twelve of the Porirua natives — led by Hohepa Tamaihungia, in search of the fugitives on Friday. They camped out that night, and reached the K»rokoro at 7 a.m. on Saturday, without any definite tracks being taken up. They then proceeded to town for orders, and that evening returned to Porirua. On Sunday, news was forwarded to Pehautanui that early that morning three had been seen by Mr. Brady, of Duck's Creek, to which place the Porirua natives at once proceeded. Volunteers and militia being out iv pursuit, six of the fiieudlies, with Mr. Swainson, proceeded to Bl&ckie's, in the Borikiwi Valley, to watch through the night six natives doing the same duty at Pahautanui. At half-past two p.m. the latter succeeded in capturing one of the principal chiefs while crossing the sand flat at Button's. The captors gave him in charge of Fnsign Bowler and his party. This man, whose name was Reweri, was brought to town by Mr. Swainson and H. Tamaihungia on Monday morning, and delivered safely at the Native Hostelr}'. On Tuesday the same Porirua natives proceeded up the coast, probably as far as Waikanae — to double back on the lost ones— a stern chase is usually a long one. — Wellington Advertiser, February 2. T)iDTNa BnnotinT -*.a> ran Ooiioirr/iu Muaatroi. — A daring and successful burglary was committed at the Colonial Museum on Thursday night last. It appears that on that evening the Museum was locked up at the usual hour, and everything left safe, but when the custodian returned on the following morning he found that the place had been broken into, and a further search proved that property to the value of about £200 had been substracted. The mode of ingress was ingenious, and showed that the burglars were thoroughly acquainted with the place, and with the way in which it was usually left at night. They cut a hole in one of the lower panels of the front door, which is double, one side being fastened by bolts running into the floor and ceiling, and the other being locked. Having cut the hole, they drew the lower bolt, and either shook the door until the upper one fell out of its place, or, knowing that it was not fastened, as is believed to have been the case, it being situated rather awkwardly high for fastening, they quietly walked in. They were provided with a light to assist them, for they left behind them the primitive sort of candlestick which they used, and which consisted of a piece of wood with three nails stuck in it to form a socket. They are supposed to have left the candle burniug when they made their escape, for none was left when the holder was found, and it is only fortunate that fire was not added to robbery, or the whole of the valuable collection would have been lost. Once inside, they showed their knowlodge of the premises, and value of its contents by choosing those articles which were at the same time most valuable and most portable. List of articles stolen : — Large chronometer — Boss, maker, examined by Pool, Loudon. Small chronometer in case — Arnold, maker, watch size, silver, in mahogany case. Large binocular fi3ld glass. Small binocular field or opera glass— Beverly, maker, Dunedin. Half of small opera glass. Massive gold ring — with lock of Napoleon's hair, and '• Napoleon " in old English raised letters round the band. Polished pebble from the Isle of Wight —figured in " Thoughts on a Pebble," oval, about 2in. by l£in. Large silver medal— nearly three inches iv diameter : (a.) Portraits in high relief of the seven bishops; inscription, "Wisdom hath builded her her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars." (b.) In high relief, two ecclesiastics digging under a church, an arm from the clouds holding up the steeple ; inscription, " The gates of hell shall not prevail." Silver medal of seven bishops, on one side the bishops, on the other the head of the Archbishop Sancroft. Bronze medal, with crushed loop f»r suspending. Crown-piece of her Majesty, with the arms, &c, as in the florins. Silver medal of Oliver Cromwell, a. little larger than half-a-crown ; Croinwsll's head on one side, a lion on the other. Silver medal,half -crown size, of Queen Caroline. Silver medal, rather larger, with female watering palm trees. Silver Russian coin — 20 kopecks, rather larger than a sixpenny piece. Platinum Russian coin — 2 roubles, double eagle on reverse, about the size of a sovereign, very heavy, and does not ring. Shilling of Queen Elizabeth. Three small Persian gold coins, about the size of a silver twopenny piece ; 1 pink topaz, 2 turquoises, 1 emerald, 1 sapphire (dark blue); small silver box, with initials. Chinese lady's brooch, about 2£in. by l£in. ; large pink stone between two green ones, set in brass. Decoration of the Legion of Honour, Napoleon 1., in red case. Two hei tikis of greenstone — one large dark one, with mutton-fish eyes ; one lighter, with one shell eye and one sealingwax eye (commonly called Maori gods). Eighteen or more ponamu (greenstone), ear - drops and pieces, small gold chain and rings in two of them. Two shark's teeth, and needle of human bone. One mere ponamu— about 15 by 4 inches. Agate pestle — about 3 inches long. About seven pieces of adzes of ponamu. Small silver medal of Chatle3 II. — rather larger than a shilling — the King seated and an angel crowning him. Four small hazel nuts — with small gems in them. Carved Maoii adze handle — "Haukaumatu," about 18 inches long. Carved portion of pipe stem— about 5 by 3 inches, of slate. Thin stone, about one-third of an mch — 3by 2 inches oval, polished on both sides, transparent in centre, purple border. Centre and drops of Roman pearl — centre about 1| by 1 inch, and drops about f inch long. Park coat and black felt h»t. — Advertiter, February 5.