AN EXCITING CHASE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 52, 1 March 1877, Page 4

AN EXCITING CHASE.

The Auckland correspondent of the Post telegraphs :— The capture of Te Patui, the Maori murderer, was rather an exciting one. A telegram had been sent to Alexandra by waking up the operator, who slept in the office. Constables were despatched to the various parts where the murderer was likely to be intercepted. The constable who captured him, gives the following particulars of the capture : — lt appeared to me that Te Patui would be more likely to go by the Baskville's Creek road, as it leads direct from NgaruaWBhia, andjwhere he could easily charge his horse. Norgrove and I reached Baskeville's Creek about midnight. When we got there, we discovered a man on horseback on the other side ot the fence. We ran along and rushed at him. He proved to be a volunteer trumpeter, at Te Awamutu, sent by Major Mair, to order us to go on to Sioney Creek, at Livingstone's farm, near Horapipi We found the ford much swollen by the rain. Norgrove went up and informed Livingstone of the murder. We then lay down in tbe ti-tree, where we could watch tbe ford. At about quarter-past three in the morning we heard some dogs bark a short distance away, and a minute afterwards a retriever dog that was lying down by my side gave a low growl; We both got into position; just then we heard the steps of a horse, evidently shod, coming towards tbe ford. When the horse reached the creek we saw a shadow, but could not distinguish the rider. Instead of coming through the ford to where we were lying down, tbe horse turned up the creek abou . twenty yards, where there was a track leading round through the furze in Livingstone's [-airlock. When I saw that I whispered to Norgrove " we must run as hard as we can to tbat narrow place in the track where there is a fence on both sides, near Livingstone's gate." We did so, and planted ourselvos on each side of the track. N»rg'rove got into tie furze, aud I crouched down in the ti-tree, about a yard iu advance. We ha-i been there a few seconds when the dog growled again, and a horse came along ai a gallop. We both leaped up together, and as the horse came between os, Norgrove seized the bridle in one hand and held hia revolver in the otber. I siezed the rider by the arm. He gave one tremendous yell of terror ; be must have thought it was taipo. I dragged him off, and his gun fell out of bis hand, ond the ho_-se broke away. Nor grove grappled with the Maori ; there was a short struggle ; we rolled over and over ; and as (he Maori would not behave himself, we gave him a few vigorous kicks and a punch or two, and that, seemed to bring him to his seoses. We then tied bis bands behind him witb a silk sasb. He shammed faintness, but I struck a match and put it under his nose, and he came round., I recognised him at once as the man who had been sent to Ngaruawahia for housebreaking. He never spoke a word. We kept him at Livingstone's house till daybreak. I went to the scene of the scuffle and picked up tbe fowling-piece. The saddle on the horse was saturated with perspiration Tbe bridle was a Maori ropp. I knew tbe circingle to be Detective Doolan's, because it was marked No. 38. In the morning we saw a party of horsemen come along, and, lest they should be Maoris, we got into the house, and had our revolvers ready. They were sellers. They asked us if we had seen a Maori an horseback. I said '- Yes jwe h«ve got him inside." They said. " Hurrah, bully for you." Prisoner is very morose and dogged.