A FUGITIVE NATIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8149, 5 July 1906, Page 2

A FUGITIVE NATIVE.

US RENDEZVOUS DISCOVERED FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. Gisdobne, July 4. Tlio police party who aro searching :or the fugitiye Matenga report exicricncing great privations. Constable \lcLeod and sereral of the party were o4 in the snow on Monday night, and )iily succeeded in reaching camp next liy 111 an exhausted state. The police lowered Matenga's rendezvous back iu the ranges, thero being about an acre o£ bush cleared and sown in turnips. They also recovered several of the stolen firearms. POLICE PARTY'S EXPERIENCE. SNOW BOUND ON THE RANGES. PBB PBESB ABSOOIATIOE. Gisdobne, July 4. | Further information received from Port Awanui regarding the police expedition after the fugitive "Hare Matenga, reports that the weather has been bitterly cold on the ranges, snow having fallen heavily. Constable McLeou and party, who were benighted on Monday night, had an extremely severe experience, and it was only by walking about all night that the eonstable and his comrades were able to maintain the circulation. Hulme, one of the men from Mr Kemp's station, who became exhausted and unable tr keep on his feet, was badly fros bitten. On being recovered, he was* found to be unconscious and it toot two hour's work to bring him round. He had to be carried some miles. The members of the party all bear traces of the rough tim« they have gone through. The clearing that was discovered on Sunday, the police are satisfied, is the camp rscontly occupied by Matenga, and cannot have been long vacated by him. The party are confident they will come upon their quarry before long, unless he nets clear away from the district. The clearing was abonl an acre in extent, and included a plot of turnips ready for pulling. Two rifles were found, one of them being a snider stolen from the camp of Mr Farney, Government surveyor, and a pea ritlo also stolen. He is believed to have other stolen guns with him.