BUSHRANGING IN NELSON PROVINCE.

Colonist, Volume X, Issue X, 12 February 1867, Page 2

BUSHRANGING IN NELSON PROVINCE.

CAPTURE OP THE BUSHRANGERS,

(From the Westport Times and Butter Express, January 23.)

On Monday night no little oxo|jjjsment was caused by a report that a man named Nicnblls had been stuckup near the Blackwater, and on investigation the report proved to be correct. It seems that the sufferer, Richard Nicholls, was coming down from the Inangahua and arrived at Lloyd's. The weather was bad, aud several parties there strongly advised lu'm not to proceed, as he would not be able to cross the rivei*. In spite of this advice, however, he did go on, but after proceeding somo distance was obliged to give in. As he supposed, most fortunately, he met with a tent in which were three men, and on asking to bo allowed to shelter, permission was at once granted. This was on Sunday morning. Nicholls during the day, finding that four £1 notes that he had in his pocket were wet, took them out and dried them a^ the fire, and then returned them to his pocket. Nothing more passed till about nine o'clock at night, when one. of the three men deliberately loaded a gun, and having done so, told the astoiusliedNicholls to bail up. He thought at first, they were in jest, but soon found to the contrary, and the ruffians forthwith proceeded to search him. They took the notes referred to, half o- sovereign, and eight ounces of gold, and having done this marched him into the bush, about fifty yards from the track, and about thirty from the river. They then with their belts strapped him to a tree, and as they did not think him sufficiently secure, cut up a piece of duck and with the strips further fastened him, binding him by the neck, by the arms, and by the legs to the tree. After doing this they got a piece of stick, put it into his mouth, and tied it there. The first gag was, after a little consideration on their part, not thought large enough, and another was substituted of greater dimensions, when they facetiously told their victim to halloo. He remained in this condition for somo hours, afraid to move, for the men threatened to shoot him if he stirred. At the end of that tinie he tried to extricate himself, and found that he could vmdo some of the straps, but one for a length_o£±ime- ' baffied him. At length he broke that and freed himself, but in the effort tore off one of his boots,, and did not care to stay for it. He lost the other in the scrub directly after, and was then bootless, with ouly v shirt and -drawers on, and the weather fearful. After a miserable night, during which time he scrambled along in and by the side of the river as he best could, he at length came in sight of a tent where he received every kindness and attention. A message was sent to Lloyd's, and a canoe with Christian, Fred Smith, who had been up on a tour, and four others came down and took him in. Before reaching the tent we omitted to state that Nicholls, on descending a hill saw the robbers behind him following the track. As may be imagined he ran as fast as his legs would carry him, and fortunately for him at the foot there was a creek into which he plunged up to his neck, and remained till the men passed by within a couple of yards of him. They had seen some one but it was nearly dark and they could not recognise Nicholls, and he heard one of them say " Oh, it could not be him, we tied the b "too safe." 021 getting into the canoe the relieving party started down stream, and after going a mile or two saw the men they wanted ahead on the bank, and hailed them. They seemed inclined to stop and accept the offer of a free trip down, but suddenly caught sight of Nicholls and bolted into the bush. > Three of the canoe party, who were armed, landed and gave chase, but could not catch the runaways, and then they came on to town and reached here about nine o'clock at night. 'When they tied up Nicholls they stuffed his trousers between his back and the tree, and put the remnants of the fly over his head to keep the rain off him. Mounted Constable Doris and acting Constable Stewart set out to look after the desperadoes. They crossed over the river, and. proceeded along the bank about three miles, when they came to an old Maori whare, in which they ascertained some men were. Doris asked the way to the Blackwater, and the reply was that those inside did not know, having only just come up from the Buller. His next request was to be allewed to come inside, but this was refused, and ultimately he forced an entrance, when three men were found whose description tallied vei-y nearly with that given by Nicholls. They were at once arrested and searched, but only £2 in notes was found on them. They had. no blankets or swags of any description, and as the constables were only two to three it was not possible for them to waste time in looking for them., The prisoners were at once handcuffed, brought down, and crossed over in a boat. Nicholls was at the bank to meet them, and at once identified them as the men that had robbed him. A large number of persons were soon gathered, and accompanied them to the lock-up, and on their being safely caged tliree cheers were given for the police. The police desei've every credit for their activity in the matter, and. Constable Doris particularly deserves special credit for the pluck and judgment he showed. Two of the men are very young, and very unlike stickers-up, and we should think but new chum bushrangers, but the third is evidently of a different stamp. They gave their names as Alexander M'Pherson, James Thompson, and James Anderson, though whethfr those are their right apellations cannot of course be at present told. They will be brought up on Friday, when Mr. Eynnersley will sit, and there is very little doubt but that they will be committed to Nelson for trial.