MARLBOROUGH.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1984, 17 November 1863, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH.

(From the Press November 7th.)

The Picton Volunteers held their annual anniversary on the 3lst ult., of which rifle shooting for prizes, followed by an excellent dinnei', were the chief features.

ESCAPE AND KE-OAPTUUE OF TWO PRISONERS

FKOM PICTON GAOL,

Some little stir was caused in Picton on Tuesday morning week, by a report getting abroad that two prisoners had succeeded in escaping during the preceeding night from the gaol, and on iuither enquiry it was ascertained that such was actually the cnse.

The prisoners who effected their escape were — Honi Pukiki, who is awaiting his trial at the forthcoming Nelson sittings of the Supreme Court to be held about the middle of this morth, for the munler of the settler Grant, in the Pelorus Sound, and James Lafont, who is also awaiting his trial at the same assizes on various charges of larceny. In order to give our readers a clear explanation of the mannar in winch the escape was effected, it will be necessary to somewhat explain the method of fastenings and other arrangements of the Gaol. From the fact of there being only three cells in the Gaol for the incarceration of prisoners, it frequently becomes nece;>B.iry to place two or more prisoners in the one cell, which was the case on the piesent occasionEach of the cell doors is secured l>y a chain and padlock, and shooting bo'ts, which fasten into the frame-work surrounding the door, at the top and bottom. In each of the doors, about four feet from the ground, is an opening, of about a foot in length, by some six or eight inches in breadth, lieiug divided in the centre by mi iron rod, which however, does not sufficiently close the opening to prevent a small arm from being protruded through on either > side of the bar.

On examining the door, it was found that the staple to winch the padlock was secured had been previously taken out, and looseaed, in orde>, it is supposed, to facilitate its being removed again ; and the prisoners must have possessed themselves of a broom handle, or other instrument, by which they were able to force back the upper and lower bolts, as well as to work out the staple.

Afier escaping by this means frora their cell, they would find themselves in a passage, at the end of which is a '.loor, fastened in almost a precisely similar manner to the one they had just opened, snd also containing a ventilator in the centre, which is frequently left open to carry away the stench from the cells. This ventilator happened to have been open on the night that the prisoners eff«cled their escape, so that they had, as it were, everything in their favor, but had it been closed, there would be very little difficulty experienced in forcing ii open by means of any sharp instrument.

After passing this door, all difficulty immediately ceased to the safe exit of the prisoners, as the door leads into the main passage of the building, and should the front door be locked an<i the key absent, there are plenty of windows and other doors through which an escape could be effected. The weather, on Monday night, it will be remembered was very boisterous, and well fitted for the escape that was effected.

It is supposed that the prisoners must have succeeded in breaking out early ou Tuesday morning, for about three o'clock Mr Cawte was

.iwnke by hearing the slamming of a door, an" on immediately proceeding to tbe spot he dis covered Siow matters siooil.

After effecting t lit ir escape, the prisoners pro ceerled to the Pic'on Wharf and made off with a boat belonging to Mr Hebberly, pilot, with which they proceeded down the Sound, as it was subsequently ascettiined wilh the intention of making for the Northern Island as soon as the weather had somewhat moderated.

As may well be supposed, every exertion was used by the authorities to obtain some trace of the prisoners on the following day, but without success, until about nine o'clock in tbe evening, wh*;i), from information received, it was discovered that the prisorers were iv the neighbourhood of Blenuatbra run, situated in iho Sound, about five miles from Picton, to which pluee Constable Overend was immediately des patched, and on his arrival was greeted with the welcome intelligence that the Maori was then in Mr Humphrey's ware, where, without any very great difficulty, he was instantly recaptured. There seems to be little doubt that the object of the Maori in going to Mr Broughton's, was to obtain, either by gift or stealth, a sufficiency of food to carry them to the other Island.

The following morning, Constable Overend, from information that he had received from the Maori, proceeded in search of the other prisoner and succeeded in finding him quietly asleep in the busb, rolled up in aJblanket, and from which nap he once mora awoke to find himself iv the safe clutches of the law.