EARLY MORNMG FRIGHT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14688, 21 August 1918, Page 3

EARLY MORNMG FRIGHT

•» ' MAORI ATTACKS FARMHOUSE. The Wanganui Chronicle gives further particulars of a matter briefly re ported by telegram. I An "affair of a startling and sensational nature happened yesterday morning at the residence of Mr. P. McWilliam, at Mars Hill. Early in the morning, at about 5 o'clock, Mrs. McWilliam heard a- man walking up and down the verandah. Thinking it wa3 someone who wanted help or desired to use the telephone, she called out, "Who's there?" There was an uiuntelligible response, accompanied by granting and knocking. The door was therefore not opened. In moment there was a terrifying banging, aS the visitor smashed in the windows and ftie door panels. Not only the glass, but the snsh frames well gave way before the bjows.- Some charrs and -other furniture on the verandah were also demolished. The only occupants of the house were Mr. and Mrs. McWilliam and Miss Anderson., Mr. MoWilliam and the two ladies went out at the back, with the intention of seeking aid from a neighbor, Mr. Dv Campion. Miss Anderson, being the fleetest, ran on. Mi-, and Mrs. McWilliam first went to the shed, where thero was a gun and the Maori, for such the visitor was seen to be, followed them. Mr. McWilliam secured tbe gun, but tbe breech would , not work, and he could not get a. oart-ridge into it. The Maori set to work again, pnd smashed in all tho windows ot the shed. He was too close for safety, and onco again *Mr. McWilliam,' who is now up 1 in years (88), while the Maori was of very stalwart build, .-eluded him and escaped by the rear of the shed. They had just got over the stile leading to Mr. Campion's, and the Maori was following, when Mr. Campion and his son, Charles, who had been roused from their sleep by Miss Anderson, arrived. Thevo was a momentary scuffle, and the Maori was felled by . a blow, from a spade. Then his hands were tied. No explanation can be offered for the outrage. The extent of the damage done can bo judcred when it is stated tliat it will cost £50 to replace the. glass, furniture and fittings.