CRIME IN THE KAIPARA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6590, 1 January 1883, Page 6

CRIME IN THE KAIPARA.

About a fortnight ago it was reported that a miscreant liad attempted to commit a criminal assault upon a daughter of Mr. John McLeod, at Kaukapakapa. A somewhat similar attempt was made a week since on the wife of Mr. Edmiston, of the same district, and the only censtable in the district has been unable to effect the capture of the offender. Last Wednesday morning, about 11 o'clock, Mr. Andrew McLeod, who resides with his brother Robert at HelensI villa, observed a strange man of unpreposi sessing appearance sittinc on the verandah of the house. Upon asking the man his . business, lie replied that he wa6 simply resting himself. • A few minutes later Mr. McLeod, wishing to go out, told the man of his intention, and asked him to leave the premises, as he was unwilling to leave his two sister-in-law unprotected. The man refused to leave, and upon Mr. McLeod proceeding to remove him, forcibly turned and struck him a severe blow upon the mouth. A fierce struggle ensued, lasting more than five minutes, during which Mr. McLeod, who, through the study of the "noble art of self-defence, *' is an adept at "fisticafls," found that he had no mean adversary to deal with. He, however, succeeded iu giving the fellow a well deserved thrashing, who, tinding himself thus beaten off, took to the bush. Later in the day, Messrs, Andrew and Robert McLeod reported th 3 matter to Constable Naughton, and a search was made but proved unsuccessful. The minute description given of this loafing scoundrel by Mr. Andrew McLeod enabled the constable to identify him as a man who had been working lately at the Makarau. It is to be hoped that the Messrs. McLeod will not let this matter rest but obtain a warrant against the man for being illegally on premises and for assault, and so rid the district for a time of a dangerous and turbulent fellow. The day previous to the assault lie is stated to have tried to pick a Quarrel with a bushman in one of the Helensville hotels by saving the bushman had robbed him. On account of the extent of this district under charge of one constable it is time that the police authorities appointed an assistant to Constable Naughton. The district comprises gumfields, several bushes at work, and contains half-a-dozen hotels. At Helensville and Makarau there are generally three or four vessels loading, so that with looking .after runaway sailors and attending to accidental deaths, &c. f the constable has plenty of work on his hands, thus giving lawbreakers every chance to carry out their deeds with impunity. It may be remembered that on Friday last Constable Naughton received instructions from headquarters to proceed at once to Port Albert to meet Mr. Clendon, R.M., it having been reported that some Maoris had threatened to set fire to the houses on Mr. Fitzgerald's station. Tnis journey he would have to make on horseback.