FUGITIVE MAORIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23067, 18 June 1938, Page 14

FUGITIVE MAORIS

ESCAPE FROM BORSTAL VARYING MODES OF TRAVEL HORSES, CAR AND CYCLES USED ONE YOUTH STILL AT LARGE [BY TELKGEAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] INVERCARGILL, Friday A circuitous journey by different forms of transport was made by three Maoris from the Invercargill Borstal Institution who escaped from the institute farm last evening. Two of them were recaptured by the Gore police near Pyramid, about nine o'clock this evening. The first part of the journey was made on horseback, the prisoners taking two hacks from the farm when they made their escape. All three were strangers to Southland, having been committed to the institution from the North Island and they attempted to break away north. They apparently followed. the north road from the farm and at Makarewa changed from the hacks to a motor car. They failed to make good progress in this vehicle, however, and after travelling only about 200 yards, they abandoned it and continued their journey on three bicycles which they found near by. Petrol Supply Exhausted After pedalling as far as Ryal Bush, they are believed to have made off with a truck. Still continuing north, they had almost -reached Balfour when the petrol supply was exhausted, but they had with them on the truck the bicycles found at Makarewa and continued on their way to Riversdale. They called at a store in the latter township and one of the youths purchased tobacco. Again misled by the direction of the roads, they cycled along the Waikaia road for a distance, but returned later through Riversdale and in the early evening set off for Mandeville. At Pyramid they stopped at a house near the road and asked for a drink of water. Two Caught Alter Chase Reports of their movements had reached the police from various points during the day and a large party of police and warders was searching for the prisoners. While the youths were at Pyramid, Sergeant J. Abel arrived in a car and saw three bicycles standing by the road. The prisoners immediately bolted, but two were recaptured and taken to Gore. A search is being made for the third.