Highwaymen in Wellington.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 128, 23 April 1872, Page 7

Highwaymen in Wellington.

A highly sensational item of news was telegraphed from Wellington a few days ago, to I the effect that two of a band of highwaymen about to enter a career of robbery and murder at Otaki, had been arrested, in consequence of one of the band having turned traitor. The following particulars are taken from the Wellington liidepcwlent of the Bth inst. : —"The young Maori who is concerned in that very strange case at Otaki was brought up before Mr Crawford on Saturday, but Mr Atcheson asked for a remand till Friday next to enable him to procure evidence to properly establish the case. The request was granted. Though going under the name ol Creighton amongst Europeans, the name of the young fellow is Karaiatiana te Puna. He is well built, and over the medium size, and cannot be over eighteen, as his face shows no sign of beard. Knox is about a couple or three years his senior. Both have known each other from childhood, and of late years they consorted much together, Knox inclining much to the indolent life of the Maoris, and having such a familiarity with the language that if heard speaking Maori without being seen it would be impossible to recognise the voife of a European. It is difficult to say what amount of truth is mixed up with the strange stories told of the murderous projects contemplated by the reckless young trio, for it appears that a third person is implicated, though still undiscovered. The facts already disclosed, and about which hang no doubt, are bad enough; but if the excitement of the aii'air has not unduly sti- | mulated the imagination of some of the set-

tiers, the cold-blooded intentions of these young men are fortunately very rarely met with. Rightly or wrongly, a particular spot on the Paikakarika Hill load overlooking a verp deep ravine, is described as the point of vantage pitched upon.' Here they were to hover on the hillside above the road disguised with sheepskins if necessary, and as their intended victims came along, they were to be speared, as the report of firearms could be heard at a house not far away. The coachman was also to be speared, and the coach horses and passengers pushed over the precipice. If any survived the terrible fall—rather an unlikely probability—the gang would descend and despatch them at their leisure. Without attaching much credence to the tale, we give it for what it is worth, and as a sample of the stories in circulation regarding this affair. That the affair has fortunately been exploded we believe is purely accidental. Knox, while being arrested on some other charge, knocked the constable down. His mate, the Maori, who was standing by, was then called on in the Queen's name to render assistance. By his assistance Knox was securely handcuffed. This irritated Knox to such a degree that he threatened he would revenge himself •by divulging their plans. Taking time by the forelock, the Maori said he would split there and then, and he did so."