SOUTHERN INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 345, 29 January 1866, Page 1

SOUTHERN INTELLIGENCE.

———H WELLINGTON. ESCAPE OP FIPTr-THEEE 3IAOEI PBISONEB3 FBOlt THE HULK MANUKAtT. FINDING OF BIS DEAD BODIES, (From the New Zealand Advertiser, 22nd January.) About half-past sis o’clock yesterday morning the police flag was hoisted on board the hulk Manukau, and several volleys fired by the guard in. charge of the vessel. A report was at once circulated that she bad dragged her anchors, but this was soon found to be incorrect. From the policeman who was sent on beard in answer to the sicrnals, we have gained the following particulars:— He was just leaving the police-station when a man ran up to him and told him that something “ was up ” on board the hulk, and he informed Sergeant Crowder of the fact, who ordered him to go on board at once. On the wharf ho found Lieutenant Campbell, 50th Eegiment, who had charge of the guard, endeavouring to get a boat to take him off, which he and the policeman succeeded in doing after some difficulty. On arriving on board they discovered that fifty-three of the fifty-sis prisoners, who had been confined in the vessel, had succeeded in making ihoir escape. The faet was unknown to the guard until five o’clock in the morning, when, on the usual inspection helm* made below, the bow-port, which would admit of the egress of two men at a time, was found to have been taken out, aud only three of the prisoners to have been left behind. A turnscrew, some nuts, and a blunt instrument which had apparently been used to remove the port, were also discovered, but beyond that no clue could be got as to the mode of effecting it, as the remaining prisoners refused to give any information. So far all is told that has transpired as to tbs immediate means of escaping; but beyond that it is believed that some twenty of them got into the boat belonging to the vessel, while others lashed themselves to plank?, or swimming unaided, made their way before the wind towards Kaiwarawara and Ngabauranga. At about nine o’clock ’six dead bodies were picked up at the former place, and the beat was found on the beach a short distance at this side of the turnpike, with some of her starboard planks stove in, aud much injured by contact with the rocks. She had not capsized, however, for three bags of ballast were still in her when she was picked up. The bodies of the drowned men were placed in the stable of tha Waterloo Hotel, in charge of the police, whence they havs since been removed into town. They are the bodies of sis powerful men, as those who attempted this daring escape must have been, and are very little injured. At Ngabauranga numerous tracks were found of those who had landed safely, marked as is usually the case by Maoris when resting or squatting down. These were variously estimated at from seventeen to thirty j but

STen supposing them to have reached the larger number, there must still be a good many missing, whose fate is most likely to have been death, in the attempt to reach the shore. -From the direction in which the tracks led, it is supposed that they have struck inland, and having amongst them Eome that are acquainted with the country, will endeavour to reach some friendly tribe. The guard in.eharge of these prisoners on board the hulk consisted of twenty-five men of the 50th Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Camp cell, who was not, however, on board the ebip on the night of the escape. The prisoners were put below at the usual hour, and we have heard it stated that they were seen to be there at half-past eleven, but of this we cannot speak with certainty. It has also been rumoured that they have not been regularly searched since they have been on board, and, if so, they could easily have concealed any instruments they might require to effect their purpose, Another rumor stated that a second boat was away, and that they had used it also. This, however, was not the case, for the larger boat belonging to the hulk has been on shore at the south-east end of the harbor for the last three days, and there was only the smaller one alongside, which has since been found, and which could not contain more than twenty men at the out-iie, particularly on such a rough, night as Saturday closed with. Messengers have been sent over the country to inform the authorities at different stations of the escape of these men, but Up to the present time no organised pursuit has taken place. Of the facilities which were afforded them to get away we are of course unable to speak, though there evidently must* have been some serious dereliction of duty, for the removal of the bow-port and the getting out through so small a space, must have occupied considerable time. A sentry was posted on the forecastle, through which a hatchway opened, and his duty was not to allow more than one of the prisoners to come up at a time. The night being very dark and stormy, he may have sought shelter, and it is supposed that the three men who still remain came up at intervals so as to deceive him, while the others were getting out of the vessel. We are informed also that he occasionally looked down the hatch, hut could see nothing in consequence of the darkness of the night; but under any circumstances it seems strange that so many men could have left the ship’s side, even if they got through the port without being discovered. Lieut. Campbell, who was on shore on Saturday afternoon, made every effort to go on board in the evening, but could not do so in consequence of the roughness of the weather. The guard was, therefore, in charge of the sergeant, and to him the sentry reported the escape as soon as daylight enabled him to see that the men were gone, when signals were made to the police, as we have already stated. We understand also that an inspection of (he hold disclosed the fact that preparations had been made for a determined attack upon the guard in case of the escape being resisted, and that the prisoners were known to have asserted, some time previously, that they would escape if they possibly could. Up to the hour of our going to press no more bodies had been found. An inquest on those already picked up will be held at the Eoyal Hotel this morning at ten o’clock.

i Since the above was written we have learnt that two policemen sent to the Hutt and Porirua to search for the tracks of the escaped, men, and to carry information of the escape to those places, have returned without having having seen any trace the fugitives. We also learn that a native has been overland to Wanganui with the news, as it is expected they will go in that direction.

(From the N. Z. Advertiser, 21th January.)

Since our last issue noth’ng of importance has transpired in connection with the escape of the 53 Maori prisoners from the hulk Manukau, except the fact that one of them went into the Ngahauranga Inn (Wallace’s) yesterday morning, and delivered himself up. This man is named Teira, and he belongs to Waitotara. He is now in the hands of the police, and, having, been courteously afforded the opportunity, we endeavoured to elicit from him some information, but what we have learnt throws but little further light upon the escape. Teira states that some of the Whakatane natives planned the whole affair, and induced the others to follow them. He says that when his turn came to leave the vessel, the boat had broken adrift with a number of men in her, and he only succeeded in reaching her by swimming. Several men were then clinging to the gunwale, but only some ten got on board. They drifted down close to Kaiwarawara, and when near the land they all jumped into the water and swam ashore. Accompanied by another native, Teira at once took to the hills, but on Monday night his comrade died from exhaustion, and, thinking that it was likely iie (Teira) would meet with a similar fate, he went to the nearest house and gave himself up, leaving the dead man behind. He further states that the prisoners took nothing with them except the very Scanty clothing they had on. Their intention was to make for Wanganui the best way they could, without interfering with the settlers, but he does not know how many went with the main body, as be never saw any of them but his dead comrade after he effected a landing on the shore at Kaiwarawara, Teira is a very old man, and it is wonderful how he succeeded in reaching the land, or existing as long as he has done without either food or raiment in the most inclement weather. This morning he will guide the police to the spot where be left his dead comrade. It is very probable that more of the escaped prisoners are still in the vicinity of Kgahauranga, and that more will have died while endeavoring to save themselves from apprehension. The bodies of the six natives found on the beach on Sunday were yesterday intered in the Church of England Cemetery, Since the above was written, we have been informed that, by order of His Excellency the Governor, Teira has been removed to the Maori Chiefs’ bouse on Thorndon, and that he has been properly clad, and is having the benefit of medical assistance.

[At the Inquest which was held on the 22nd Inst, a verdict of accidentally ; drowned was resumed,]