Highway Robbery near Ahaura.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 167, 21 January 1873, Page 7

Highway Robbery near Ahaura.

The intelligence that a daring and successful highway robbery had been committed within a few miles (if Ahaura, reached that place on Tuesday evening between nine and ten o'clock. The alarm was, it is said, first given to the police by Mr James Hayes, draper, at Ahaura, who was the victim of the outrage* Mr Hayes has establishments at Ahaura, Reefton, and Half-Ounce, and he has for some time been the largest purchaser of gold at the latter place. His account of the affair is that he had been detained at Half-Ounce in the transaction of some very urgent business longer than usual, and when he started for Ahaura it was coming on nightfall. On reaching a part of the road not'far from the entrance to the racecourse, and just Where the metalled track emerges from the bush on to the plains, he was accosted by a man, who, after bidding him good evening, caught hold of the bridle of his horse. The thief, at the same time, let fall over his face apeiceof some fabric which was pieviously arranged upon his hat like a puggaree. Another man then appeared from behind a tree, and after presenting a double-barrelled gun at Haynes ordered him to dismount. The second scoundrel Avas disguised with a wrapper thrown over his heaci and shoulders, with holes cut in for the eyes. While one of the robbers kept him covered with the gun, the other undid a valise, which was strapped upon the saddle, and cutting it open, rifled it of its contents. These were, according to the report given the police, 3590>5. of gold dust, £52 in notes, silver, and cheoues in all amounting to £I4OO. They then ordered him to empty his pockets, and after taking everything he had about him of any value, they told him to mount his horse again, and allowed him to proceed, warning him that if he gave any information of the I robbery before the expiration of a month, I they would take his life. He made all haste | to reach Ahaura, and reported the ciroumj stance at once to the police. The police at | once took measures towards tracing and elear- | ing up this mysterious affair, but although an immediate pursuit was ordered, no clue to the whereabouts of the miscreants has yet been obtained. A reward of £IOO is offered by the manager of the Bank of New South Wales for such information as will bear upon the case. The time and place were exactlysuitable for the perpetration of this piece of vilVny. The part of the road where the! robbery was committed is at all times lonely, j and would be especially so about dark. It'is at a p'ace where a bridge is built across a, deep ravine, coming to which the pace of travellers is usually slackened, and there is not any means of escape at either side. These circumstances would give the footpads a favourable opportunity for effecting their purpose.