The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1868. ESCAPE OF THE HAUHAUS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 174, 25 July 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1868. ESCAPE OF THE HAUHAUS.

Fsom our Wellington files, received yesterday, we learn that an English schooner, the Rifleman, owned by Messrs. Wilson and M'Clatchie, of Lyttelton, (which had been chartered by Mr Walter Hood, of Christchurch, to bring cattle from the Chatham Islands to Dunedin), was the vessel which unwillingly conveyed the Hauhaus to Poverty Bay. The statement relative to a French Whaler has proved to be entirely without foundation. Th9 Rifleman arrived at Wellington on Wednesday afternoon, and the Evening. Post of that date, gives the following particulars of the escape, furnished by one of the crew : — The day after the arrival of the schooner at the Chathams, while the captain was on shore, firing was heard by those on board, after which the Maoris were seen taking possession of two boats and pulling for the vessel, which they boarded, and sent the crew aft, placing a guard over them, where they were kept for three houiß, during which time the Maoris on shore were gathered together, and brought on board. The crew were then informed that if they did not weigh anchor and proceed to Poverty Bay, every iraan of them would be killed. Having no other alternative, the mate, in the absence of the captain, yielded to superior strength, and proceeded to sea. The weather on the journey was boisterous, and, in order to allay a storm which they encountered, the Maoris, acting from superstitious motives, laid hands on the father of one of the chiefs and threw him overboard. They carried with them to Poverty Bay all the arms and ammunition they could lay hands OG. The schooner Florence, which was at anchor close to the Rifleman, was seized and boarded by the Maoris, and sent adrift with all sail set, her crew being put on shore and secured, as was also Captain Thomas and the guard, in order to prevent escape, bui no violence was used. Most of the Rifleman's cargo was flung overboard by, the Maoris, to make room for themselves in the hold.