A TASMANIAN ABSCONDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1198, 14 November 1874, Page 7

A TASMANIAN ABSCONDER.

The Hobart Town Mercury sates that on Friday evening, 2nd instant, a mysterious boat party, accompanied by district constable M'Guire, started in a f ouroaoed boat from the waterman's dock for Blackmau's Bay. A rumour was current immediately after the boat had pulled away that the party and constables were in pursuit of the levunter White, who was principal in a recent smashed-up Launceston firm. The fugitive is said to have arrived per coach in Hobart Town on Friday morning, he having taken his seat at Petth, and subsequently took passage in the Natal Queen for New Zealand. The vessel sailed on Friday, but became becalmed in Blackman's Bay. It was further mentioned that considerable huckstering had taken place between the inspector of police and one of the proprietors of O'May's steamer, as to the amount demanded for conveying the party to their destination, but ultimately it was decided by the economic inspector that the cheapest way was to engage a four-oared boat. White had been traced to Brisbane-street, l*ut there waa nothing to show that he went <>n board the Natal Queen, although it was considered strange that she should have lain at her warpa until an hour or so after the coach arrived, and then sailed away. The police and some law clerks, however, went down the river until they saw the light of a vessel a long way off ; but a breeze off the land having sprung up, all hope of overtaking the ye was given up. If the people of Launceston had sent intimation of White's having absconded on the fact being known, instead of not till after 2 o'clock, or had even sent authority to a- t prehend, instead of waiting till half-past 4, White could have been arrested before the vessel got away. Warrants, charging White witli felony, have been taken out, and will be forwarded to New Zealand.