ESCAPE OF A PRISONER.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3044, 29 April 1867, Page 5

ESCAPE OF A PRISONER.

On Saturday morning * prisoner named Maurioa alias Daniel Walsh, made his escape from the gang working on the private road at Mount Eden leading to Mr. T. Macfarlane's residence. The prisoner, who is a native of County Carlow, Ireland, was a deserter from the 12th Regiment, having deserted on the 12th June, 1866, at Tauranga. During the time he -was *t large, he was twice convicted for larceny. The first offence was stealing a pair of trousers from a dwelling-house on the Ellerslie farm in January last, for which he received one month's imprisonment. He was convicted the second time at Onehunga for stealing a coat a few weeks ago, and the term of imprisonment would have expired in seven dayi. His object in escaping must have been to avoid being handed over to the military authorities, and taken home with the regiment. It appears that about half-past 8 o'clock there were 14 prisoners at work in two gangs, making the road leading to Mr. T. Macfarlane's house, under the surveillance of two officers— Mr. OBrien, the overseer, and a aentry. The overseer left the first ganp, among whom was the prisoner, and went a distance of about fifty yards to the second gang, for the purpose of giving instructions. When he returned, he found that Walsh was missing, and he could see no trace of him. The scrub is very thick in that place, and the prisoner, making a dart into the bush, was out of sight in an instant. No shot was fired. He then assembled the two gangs together, left them in charge of the sentry, and started off in pursuit of the runaway in the direction of Epsom, but could find no trace of him. Mr. Macfarlane stated that he saw the prisoner at Wallace's paddock, below his (Mr. M.'s) residence. Mr. Tuckwell instantly despatched three of the warders in pursuit, towards Onehunga, and then communicated with Mr. Commissioner Naughton, who, with characteristic promptitude, sent SergeantMaior Molloy, and constables Carrigan, O'Callaghan, McCafferty, Clarke, Greene, and H. B. Clarke in pursuit, with instructions to scatter themselves over the country in the neighbourhood of Mount Eden, and to occupy salient positions from whence they could obtain a view of persons passing along the roads. They returned in the afternoon witnout any intelligence of the escaped prisoner. The Commissioner of Police then despatched another party of men to Mount Edea district and to the Whau Bridge. They returned on Sunday morning without any tidings of the runaway. It is likely he is concealed among the rough scoria between Mr. Macfarlane's honse and Epsom. He is described as being 28 years of age, 5 feet 6£ inche« in height, of swarthy complexion, brown hair, and hizel eyes, with a scar on his forehead and over the left eye. Up to a late hour last night no tidings of him had been obtained.

Masked balls are all the rage in Philadelphia, the "Quaker city." t The German Mannerchor lately gave one, which was opened with the " fair scene" from "Martha." During the ball an egg. vast as that seen by fainbad, was introduced. Suddenly, out of it jumped, says the correspondent of the New York Hound, Table, almost as great a< variety of beasts and birds as voyaged with Noah in the Ark. Each gave the peculiar utterance of its kind, and an animal Babel -was thus created as they formed a procession, headed by a giant, and joined by a number of Indians mounted on Shetland ponies. - Mated. A bachelor sea captain, who was,remarking the other day that he wanted a good chief offioer, was promptly informed by a young lady present that she would be his £rat mat?) He toQK the hint -RodthoUdy,