THE EPSOM MURDER.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5724, 1 February 1876, Page 2

THE EPSOM MURDER.

The search for the Maori Harry continues with unabated vigour, but as yet with no ascertained result. The opinion that he made for Orakei and possibly has not yet ventured to leave the shelter of the scrub there, except for a short time at night, ia becoming more and more fixed in men's minds. Bearing upon this comes a statement from Mr. Collins, the master of the native school at Orakei. This gentleman resides in an isolated house at Orakei, with his wife and two young sons. At eleven o'clock on Suuday night his attention was roused by some one timidly rapping five times at his door. The other members of the family also heard the sound as did two dogs which were fastened inside the house. Mr. Collins, who is in a delicate state of health, did not lise immediately, but called out ' ' Who is there V .Receiving no reply, he determined to get up and load a revolver he had in the house, at the same time rousing his sons. This he did, and then opened the door. He found no one there It is believed by Mr. Collins thab the knocking was caxised by Harry wishing to beg for food, and trusting to the news of his crime not having reached a spot so out of the way. Upon hearing such formidable preparations being made for his reception, it is surmised the fellow decamped dreading that his hones were fallacious. Mr. Collins feels confident that none of the natives settled at Orakei would come at so late an hour, as they are m the habit of betaking themselves to their whares early in the night. The latest hour at which they have ever visited him before has been 8 o'clock. Yesterday Mr. Collins learned from a neighbour that he also had heard some one knocking at his door. Information of the above has been given to the polioe constablo who was in the district.