CAPTURE OF MATENGA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2068, 20 December 1907, Page 2

CAPTURE OF MATENGA.

HISTiOK y OF THE CASE. Haro Alatonga lias boon so long at largo that perhaps a short history of tho doings of tho Maori outlaw would not bo out of place. THE ORIGINAL CRIME. In September, 11)02, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Matonga on a charge of having stolen a horse, valued at £lO, the property of another Native, Hohepa dvakuroa, the horse having since been recovered by tho owner. When about to be apprehended for this offence Matonga took to the bush at I’akikiroa, between Waipiro and Tuparoa. BUSH CAMP THEFTS. From that time forward a number of bush camps, surveyors’ camps, fencers’ camps, and grass-seeders' camps wore robbed, but little notice was taken until in 1905 the robberies became so frequent that the mattci was brought prominently under -the notice of the police, and it was decided to make an endeavor to capture tho offender, who was supposed to be Matonga, THE FIRST SEARCH. In June, 1900, Constables McLeod (Tolaga) : ud Melsopp (Awanui) and a party of station hands made a search for Matonga in the AVaitahaia district, s id after undergoing great privations, during which ono of the party nas severely frost-bitten through being out in tho snow all night, the ; returned unsuccessful. THE SECOND SEARCH. The cam') thefts continued, and Detective Bre berg, of Wellington, and Constable McLeod, of Napier, were sent to the district in July, 1906, to take up the quest. They .got Joe E irl for their guide, and carried on their search for 22 weeks, going .right through a very bitter and severe winter. The search was carried on vigorously, and in November camps of Matenga wore found, with everything packed up as if he would return, but ■lie did not do so. The camps were watched for a month, but there was so sign of Matenga’s return, and being satisfied that lie was then out of tilts district, and there being nothing to indicate where he had gone, the party returned in December. A THIRD SALLY. When tho party aforementioned gave up their search there were few bush catnips then used, and no further thefts were reported; but soon again thefts characteristic of Matenga were reported from the Bay of Plenty, .near the mouth of tho Motu River. A local party at once got on tbe trail, and Matenga’s camp showed evidences of a hasty flight was found, but be could not be caught on this occasion. FRESH OUTBREAK OF THEFTS. No “Matenga” thefts were reported from this time, until in September last tho camp of Surveyor Rasmussen at Motu was robbed of a large quantity of food, a rifle, axes, etc. . In October further robberies were committed at the bushfelling camps of Ali isrs. Brothers and Dooley. (Brothers’ camp was robbed on October 12th, and on tho following day Messrs. Brothers (2), Jackson, and Caron tracked some footmarks from the camp leading into the bush. After some hours of tracking they came upon a Maori lighting a fire, and they endeavored to surround him. They called upon him to surrender, but he bolted, and though Caron fired at him no more was seen of him. Dooley’s camp was robbed on October 21st, and a fowling-piece and a quantity of provisions were taken, but nothing was seen of the offender. THE LAST SEARCH.

After this further series of thefts Police Commissioner Dinnie decided that it was once again time that some actiro steps were taken to effect an arrest of Matenga, and Detective Broherg was once more sent from Wellington to take charge of the search. 'He arrived in. Gisborne on December 7tli, accompanied by Constable Arthur Skinner, the wellknown wrestler, and after arrival in Gisborne Harry Green, a well-known Poverty Bay bushman, was obtained to act as guide to the expedition. ON THE TRAIL.

iSoon after arrival it was learnt that on November 16th the camp of Mr. Honan- who was cutting bush on Hutchinson’s Tahora station, had been robbed, and it was decided to camp in- that vicinity, a start being made from Gisborne on December lltli. A search was made of the country in the vicinity of the robbed camp, and a recent camp, supposed to belong to Matenga, was found. Subsequently information was received by the party that a strange Maori find visited the Rangiora pah, which is a long day’s journey from Tahora station. SOME HOT SCENTS. Before reaching the Rangiora pah tho party came upon a camp, the user of which had been living on blue duck. This was on- Monday last. The party pushed on,-and by nightfall they reached the Waima. pah after a hard day’s journey, and were hospitably entertained by Hukunui, tlie chief of the pah. They learnt here that a Ngatiporou Native had stayed in the camp for a week, and had left again on the 2nd hist,; in. the direction of Wairoa. Certain they were on the track of the wanted man the party hastened' forward on Tuesday morning, 'and after a hard journey reached Milts’ homestead on Wednesday morning, at 9 o’clock. SUCCESS ’AT LAST.

Soon' afterwards they camo upon the E repeti pah, near. the Ruakitun River, and after mixing with the small number of people an the pah for a. time Green picked out a stranger. 'Ho was accosted, and finally allowed that he was.Miitenga.. In his possession was found a lady’s silver watch and chain, with .a- pendant, attached, in which the guide recognised a photograph of Mrs. Brothers. RETURN TO TOWN. The party then set.fQ-rtli with tliencaptive in the direction of Te Reinga. Ten miles- from E rip eti they came to Penty’s homestead, where a trap was kindly supplied by Mr. Penty, and the party proceeded on. to Tiniroto. During the night the wornout- party kept guard on Ma.tenga, leaving for town about. 9 a.m. yesterday, and arriving late in tbe afternoon. A HOT CHASE. From the start tlie party felt sure they were on a hot, close scent, and their treks over rough country were made at an abnormal speed. They travelled very light, wearing only dungarees and undershirts. Their rugs and other clothes were carried in swags, which also held about four days’ food. Tbe party travelled to some degree in streams and over very ■rough country, but, as before stated, they felt they were oil. tlie right trail, and it was merely the bloodhound'instinct in them that enabled them to keep going a.t a fast pace, in .spite of the almost unbearable heat. CLEVER (BUiSHMANSHIP. Detective Broherg speaks in the highest terms of the abilities of Green as a lmshman. The detective has had occasion previously to call on bushmen for aid, hut he states unreservedly that ho has never mot a man more capable in his line than Green. In fact, he states that Green’s lioli? was largely instrumental in ensuring the success of tlie party. THE POLICE. A word of praise is due to the Com- • missioner of Police for tlie way in which lie persisted in making search. To Detective Broberg and his helpers great credit is also due, and it is to he hoped that the DopnI'UIU'II( will recognise their efforts; for though Matenga- was wanted oil only a secondary count, it has to he remembered that- tlie searchers put forth efforts equal to what they would had the fugitive been a murderer. A COINCIDENCE. A remarkable coincidence is that on this occasion Detective ißroberg took to the hush on the same Friday in December as his party left it on the occasion of the last search. A UNIQUE HUNT. It is worthy of note that the hunt after Matenga is the only one of its kind oil the criminal records of tlie colony, except for the hunt after McKenzie in 1904, and that Detective Broherg was concerned in both. THE TE A WAITE CRIME. In February, 1904, one Leonard Collinson was shot while working oil the Te Awaito station, near Martinborough, and suspicion at once fell on one James McKenzie. A police party under Detective Broberg was at once sent out, and they spoilt many months in the ranges around blart-iu-

borough seeking the criminal, iho party was on a very dangerous quest, because McKenzie was known to he a criminal of tho worst kind, and he was armed. The party lost traco ol their man in this locality, and withdrew; but later thefts similar to Matenga’s were reported from Hawke’s Bay, and alter a short chase M‘Ken,;je was 'arrested in December, 1901, ill tho depths of the Rualiine mountains, behind AVaipawa. The police party came unon lum while ho was in a. hut, and lie was overpowered before be could offer any resistance.