BUSHRANGING ON THE BULLER. CAPTURE OF THE BUSHRANGERS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 2967, 28 January 1867, Page 5

BUSHRANGING ON THE BULLER. CAPTURE OF THE BUSHRANGERS.

(FROM THB "WESTPORT TIMES," JANUARY 23.) On Monday night no little excitment was caused by a report that a man named Nicholls has been stuck up near the Blackwater, and on investigation the report proved to be correct. It seems that the sufferer, Uichard Nicholls, was coming down from the Inan<*ahua and arrived at Lloyd's. The weather was bad, and several parties there strongly advised him not to proceed. In spite of this advice, however, he did go on, but after proceeding some distance was obliged to give in. As he supposed, most fortunately, he met with a tent in which were three men, and, on asking to be allowed to Bhelter, permission was at onoe granted. About 9 o'clock at night, one of the three men deliberately loaded a gun, and, having done so, told the astonished Nioholls to bail up. He thought at first they were in jest, but soon found to the contrary, and the ruffiansj forthwith proceeded to search him. They took four £1 notes, half a sovereign, and Boz. of gold, and having done this marched him into the bush, about fifty yards from the traok, and about thirty from the river. They then with their belts strapped him to a tree, and as they did not think him bufficiently secure, cut up a piece of duck, and with the stripes further fastened him, binding him by the neck, by the arms, and by the legs to the tree. After doing this, they got a piece of stick, put into his mouth, and tied it there. The first eae was, after a little consideration on their part, not thought large enough, and another was substituted of greater dimensions. He remained in this condition for some hours, afraid to move, for the men threatened to shoot him if he stirred. At the end of that time he tried to extricate himself, and found that he could undo some of the straps, but one for a length of time baffled him. At length he broke that and freed himself, but in the effort tore off one of his boots. He lost the other in the scrub directly niter. After a miserable night, during which time he scrambled along in and by the side of the nver as He best could, he at length came in sight of a tent where he received every kindness and attention. A message was sent to Lloyd's, and a canoe with Christian, Fred. Smith, who had been up on a tour, and four -others, came down and took him in. On getting into the canoe the relieving party started down stream, and, after going a mile or two saw the men they wanted ahead on the bank, and hailed them. Ihey seemed inclined to stop and accept the offer of a .free trip down, but suddenly caught sight of Nicholls and bolted into the bush. Three of the party, who were armed, landed and gave chase, but could not catch the runaways; and then they came on to town, and reached here about nine o'clock at night. Mounted constable Doris and acting constable Stewart act out to look after the desperadoes, lliey crossed over the river, and proceeded along the bank about three miles, when they came to an old Maori whare, in which they ascertained some men were. Doris asked the way to the Blackwater, and the reply was thafthose inside did not know, having only just come up from the Boiler. His next request was to be allowed to come inside, but this wL refused, and ultimately he forced when three men were found whose descnptaon tallied very nearly with that given by Nicholk. The prisoners were at once Jandcuffed, brought down? and crossed overin a boat. Nicholls was aV the bank to meet them, and at once identified them as tifmmthat had robbed him. Two of the men are very young, and very unlike shckers-up, and we shoulo 7 think but new chum to*™*"^** third is evidently of a different stamp. They gave their names i Alexander McPherson, James Thompson, and James Anderson, though whether thos&are.their right appellations cannot, of course be at- present told. They will be brought up on Friday when Mr.. Kynnersley will ait, and there is .very little doubt but that they will be. committed to Nelton for triaL