AMATEUR BUSHRANGERS IN CANTERBURY.

Patea Mail, 22 July 1880, Page 3

AMATEUR BUSHRANGERS IN CANTERBURY.

A couple of well-equipped desperadoes have been laying siege to some residents at Waiho near Timaru. Two' men of hitherto peaceful and respectable antecedents, named Talbot and Eugene Ford, had been priming their mental faculties with the exploits of the Kelly gang in Victoria, and their stomachs with bad whiskey from the hills. In this hilarious state of mind they secured a buggy, and having armed themselves with a loaded revolver, they started on an ameteur bushranging expedition. Driving up to the Whaiho hotel they laid, seige on the landlady, who proved however to be of strong temperament and refused to be frightened even by the brandishing of a revolver, one of the chambers of which was finaly but judiciously fired into the fire-place. Satisfied with their hotel exploit, the would-be highwaymen crossed' the river and stuck up a hut belonging to Mr. Douglas. The hut was occupped by.three, men, and the first one encountered was peremptorily ordered to prepair tea for his visitors. “I’ll do nothing of the sort,” said the man. You’vcj come from the public-house and you can get your tea where yon spent your money.” The words wera barely uttered when a revolver was presented at the speaker's head, and he was told that “he had two minutes to consider whether he should get tea ready, or get his brains blown out,” Discretion was considered the better part of valour, and the meal was prepared and done amplc justicc to. After a repast which they evidently cnjpyed,. the “desperadoes” returned to their., buggy and drove off, Infori mation was given to the police,. and on Tuesday last Ford was arrested. Talbot, who is a well-known contractor for the County Council, has also been caught.. Adater report says that; the men were brought up, and remanded* Talbot being bailed out;