SYDNEY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 156, 8 January 1864, Page 3

SYDNEY.

Bushranging is still rampant, and on the increase. We give the following specimen out of the many paragraphs daily appearing in New South Wales:—‘-On Tuesday morning last, about ten o’clock, Gilbert and Ben Hall called at Cofley’s, three miles from Burrowa, and stuck upa number of people who happened to be there. They ordered and partook of breakfast, and every one who passed along the road was challenged and directed to come in. A young gentleman named Campbell objected to the order, and galloped off. Hall got on his horse and pursued him for some distance, but without overtaking him. At one time it is said there were forty men, women, and children bailed up, none of whom appear to have been much molested. Some grog that was in the place was handed round by the bushrangers to the company as far as it would go. Several of the men were shearers. Coffey carries on the business of a blacksmith, and we believe keeps a small store. A hawker who was at the house was taken by them into the bush, and by his conduct it is supposed that he thought they were going to tie him up, rob him, and leave him there ; he begged to he allowed to kiss his wife before he went but they told him he could postpone doing so until his return. Gilbert drove him into the bush, and took a j£l-note from him. From a shearer who was at the house they took a similar sum. Gilbert had the lower part of his face hidden under a comforter; Hall had nothing on his. Coffey states that they took .£3O from him. Their horses were very much jaded. They left the house with a shearer of Mr. Campbell’s, whom they asked when the men were going to be paid ; on being told the following day they left the man within a short distance of the house. It was stated that next day Gilbert and Hall chased a son of Mr. Poplin, who was mounted on a very fine horse. The youth beat his pursuers and got away. On Thursdey morning the bushrangers were seen between Burrowa and Bendenine, the estate of Mr. C. O’Brien. They come out of the bush close to the road and reconnoitred a traveller, but did not interfere with him. Ben Hall was then mounted on a remarkably fine horse, and it is supposed since leaving Coffey’s ho managed to recruit his stud.

probably at the expense of Mr. Poplin. While Gilbert and Ben Hall were at Coffey’s they laid their revolvers on a table, and walked about unarmed and quite carelessly. Gilbert was very jocose with some of his company, but Hall appeared to be of a more sullen and reserved deportment.”