THE WILD MAN OF THE WOODS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8944, 19 December 1907, Page 5

THE WILD MAN OF THE WOODS.

ANOTHER CHASE AFTER THE

FUGITIVE

For the past fortnight little has been heard of Hare Mateuga, and the arrival of the little field force to try and capture him has given renewed interest to the subject of "the wild man of the woods," says the Poverty Bay Herald. At first some people discredited the idea that it was Hare Mateuga that had extended his field of operations, but further proof of the methods by which tho different camps wore robbed seemed to leave uo doubt on the poiut, aud the description givou by those who saw him also tended to confirm the belief. "Why didn't they shoot him?" is tho question asked by many in rogard to tho meu who covered him with a gun. It must bo remembered that, although so often termed an outlaw, Hare Mateuga is nothing of "tiie kind. Ho might be called a fugitive from justico, aud a persistent thief, but lie lias done nothing that would justify him being fired ou. He originally took to the busli because his arrest was contemplated, but it is probable that the charge in that case could not have boon substantiated. The real grievauce in regard to Hare was that steps wore not promptly taken at the timo ho started his career of - pillage to have him captured, a tas_ that could not bo accomplished by the small police staff at disposal. The statement made by a Wellington paper that the present time of the year will bo found ideal for campiug out is not borne out by a Motu settler to whom tho subject was mentioned. "They'll uot bo able to get a wink of sleep," was his conviction iv regard to men coming from the city; aud he weut on to explaiu that they would get a bad time with the mosquitos aud flies, which are a great nuisance at this time of the year.