TUAPEKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 620, 16 October 1863, Page 6

TUAPEKA.

(fBOM THE DAIIY EIIIEB CORRESPONDENT.) The report of the new rush near the Taieri has caused great excitement, and hundreds are leaving for the new field ; in fact I may say not one-fourth of the population remains, and others talking about leaving in a feir days. The weather is fine, but business is suspended on account of the great excitement. There were several important cases tried before Major Croker, E.M,, yesterday, which I send a few particulars of.

VTAIFORI STICK.ING-UP CASE.William Mills was charged with being one of the offenders.

Francis H. Valp^ being sworn, said — I was lately clerk in the Bank of New South Wales. I recollect the 14th of September last. I was that day paying a visit to Campbell Thompson, at the' Deep Stream I was riding, and on my road home I passed through the Waipori at quarter past 11 a.m., takiug the road leading past Shadbolt Store, it being then about 12 a.m. I had not passed that place long before I observed four men. lying on the grass, two on each side of the road, with their faces in the opposite direction. The moment I approached them the whole four jumped up, and two presented revolvers, and the others a double-barrelled gun each, and ordered me to dismount, which I did. They then told me to put my hands behind my back, and they then tied them. They afterwards led me down the first gully, searched me, and found nothing. One of the four mounted my horse, and led the way towards the Waipori Busb. The leader oo horseback then fell back, and stayed behind, one of the other three led the way to the Waipori Ford ; we then kept the track to the Exhibition Accommodation House, the original leader then joined us on foot, and said my horse wag bogged. We reached El Dorado Accommodation House 8 p.m., the same evening, and one of the men went to the back door and another at the front, which was opened by the proprietor ; the man presented a revolver and ordered him to stand, which he did, and I was ordered and did follow him in ; the other two then followed close behind me ; they then tied the proprietor and searched the house, and found L 36. I was present when they found it, one pound of which they gave him back to enable him to carry on hia business. They all then helped themselves to refreshments After finishing they tied us both on beds in separate rooms, and then left the place, and, as far as I can remember, they left about 12 o'clock that night. About 6 a.m. next morning, Mr Walker managed to get loose, and he then cut the ropes that fastened me. When I first saw them the whole ionr had black veils on. One of them afterwards changed his veil for a comforter, just so as I could see his eyes. They all wore old" felt wideawake hats. I will awear that the man with the comforter had dark eyes, and I think brown hair. He was a low-set man, and rather thin built, about 5 feel 6 inches. He wore an old blue jumper and dirty grey cloth trowsers. Ido not recollect hearing him speak. The leader of the party seemed to be an older man by his voice and general appearance, and a little taller, I should say about 5 feet 8 iuches and would consider him about forty years of age. lie spoke nil the time, and seemed to be an educated man. At the time he took my horse the oil skin coat was fastened to the saddle in the usual way. I have have never seen it since until this morning in custody of one of the troopers. I have seeu the horse, saddle, and bridle in the custody of a carter who recovered them at Weatheratone's. I have never seen any of the party since. I could not swear whether the man now before the court was *one of them or not. lam not certain whether - jT have seen this man before. Major Croker jmade a few remarks and then discharged th# {prisoner, but Walker laid another informa- .- ftion immediately which was brought on, bait ] ,{ ithe police asked for a remand for five dayq to <T" tenable them to summons mtnea^ea, whu?h was i'j kranfed. „, j /_ _ s ~y- /Of JoiSS