STICKING-UP AT TOKOMAIRIRO.

Otago Witness, Issue 522, 30 November 1861, Page 5

STICKING-UP AT TOKOMAIRIRO.

APPREHENSION O? TUX SUPPOSED PARTIES. A most daring robbery under arras was committed at Tokoniniriro on Thursday night, on the premises of Mr. UciJ, an old settler. The house is near .Mnn^fcrd'g store. At abotzt 2 o'clock in the morning. Mrs. Reid, hearing a none, get up and struck a light, when she saw three men and .1 boy, who had just entered by the window. Their faces were covered with masks of red cloth. They fired a pistol over Mr. Reid's head, by way of intimidation, and then searched the nou«e. They took forty pounds in money. They then ordered some whisky hot, and began to make enquiries respecting Mr. Mansford's store, as to whether many men slept on the premises. They were answered in the affirmative; and this, it appears, deterred them from making any attempt in that qu.irter. They also took .£8 belonging to the Church. They promised Mr. and Airs. Reid that they would return all the money they had taken in six weeks. They said they had been digging, and were unsuccessful, and they promised to drop the money at the door within the period specified. As scon as information was furnished to the Police Depot, mounted troopers, Lambert and Ticehurst started in pursuit, and succeeded in coming up with three of the number (two men and a boj*) at the Taeiri Ferry. They at once arrested them and brought them into Dunedin, at which place theyjirrived yesterday evening. On them were found the whole of the money, the pistol, and the red cloth masks.

To the Editor of the Otago Witness. Buncdin, 21st Nov., ISfil. Sill, — My attention lia-5 been culled to a statement, attributed to Mr John Gillies, in your report of the debate in the Provincial Council, upon the subject of the compensation parable- to llunliolders within the boundaries of the Gold Fields. Mr Gillies is reported to have said, that I had stated to him that I, for one, should be satisfied with being allowed the actual amount expended on my Kun, in improvements. I beg to state that I never made any such declaration to Mr. John Gillies, or to anyone elf-c ; and this, I believe, Mr. Gillies will confirm. I wish to mike no unreasonable demand upon the public purse, but I consider that it is not fair that those whose Runs arc declared within a Gold Field should be the only snfferers by an event which is bringing prosperity' to all other classes, and t vat any refusal to award compensation in the manner provided by an express law of the Colony, would he an act of repudiation such as has not hitherto disgraced any British community. — I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Jami;s Smith.