ESCAPE OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 210, 31 January 1866, Page 3

ESCAPE OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

The New Zealand Advertiser, of the 22nd inst., has an account, of which the following is an abridgment, of the escape of fifty-three of the Maori prisoners from the hulk Manukau, at Welington, and of the loss of several lives in their attempt to reach the shore : — About half-past six o'clock yesterday morning the police flag was hoisted on board the hulk Manukauj and several volleys fired by the guard in charge of the vessel. On the police arriving on board they discovered that fifty-three of the fifty-six prisoners, who had been confined in the vessel, had succeeded in making their escape. This fact was unknown to the guard until five o'clock in the morning, when, on the usual inspection being made below, the bow port, which wonld admit of the egress of two men at a time, was found to have been taken out, and 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.