AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 194, 30 September 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND.

THE .ESCAPED 3IAOPIS HELPING THEMSELVES. (From the Southern Croan. Sept. 27.) Tns overland Mail from Matakana reached .Auckland last evening, and the mailman, who came from Stoke’s Point in tlie Ferrv boat, reports that

four head of cattle belonging to MeiUlejohn, and two head belonging to Mr. Mathews, had been shot by some of the escaped Maories : that they say they can’t starve themselves, and that, as they require four head of cattle per day to supply them with meat, the settlers must send in their bill to Sir George Grey ! Ho further states that it was reported at Matakana, 200 Kaipara natives were on their way to join the prisoners, and that about 30 of Ruarangi’s friends had already joined them, and were acting as their guides. The runaways further repeat that if the soldiers are sent after them they will fight, but if shey are left alone and allowed to supply themselves with food they will not molest the settlers. The escape of these men, and particularly their bearing since they have been at large, lias certainly a most ludicrous appearance, but if the statements made above are true, their conduct is beginning to assume a rather serious aspect