SEARCHING FOR POWELKA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 68, 11 September 1911, Page 7

SEARCHING FOR POWELKA

INNOCENT SWAGKMAX CAUSES toXCERX. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The rumors that Powelka had been seen in the King Oouutry and in the Alokau district have all proved groundless, and the fifteen policemen who were searching in the vicinity have all been withdrawn. A swagsn'ian making his way -through from New Plymouth to Te Kuiti in search of work was evidently the innocent cause of the invasion of the district by the policemen. To the Herald's Te Kuiti correspondent he expressed indignation that "a poor man can't walk through the country without attracting a force of pelicemen."

IN THE AIOKAU DISTRICT. AIANY SYMPATHISERS. Stated the Auckland Herald of Friday: Much of the country in the Alokau district is in a wild state, and once a fugitive got in there some difficulty would be experienced in hunting him down. A large number of bushmen arc employed in the Afokau this year, and it is believed that if Powelka has arrived there he would find many sympathisers, and, in the circumstances, the police would: have a very difficult task to unearth him. On almost every hand expression* of sympathy with Powelka. are to be heard, and there is a general impression, that if he has the good luck to approach a sympathiser, and docs it in the right way, ho might be assisted in his attempt to escape.

Advice received on Thursday from Awfl'kino states that the man 1 was seen near Afount Ales?enger. This caused the police to move that way, going up the Alokau river, following' the telegraph wires from Dive's mill towards Awakino. The man was last seen on Thursday afternoon. There was evidence of' him haying slept in a roadman's hut at that point. The police are now following that trail. It is not known that it Is Powelka, but the circumstances are suspicious. The route taken is a deviation of the main road, and a verv arduous task has been undertaken by the police. A packman who had been taking out goods to the bushmen in that part state* that he met a man on that track, bub ho could not get a look at him, as the man took shelter in the bush immediately he was aware that he was being met Vm the truck. Pour of the police who left for Alokau evidently received fresh orders on the receipt of this news, as' they returned from Alahoenui to Aria, on Thur-day evening, leaving in the direction of Afangaroa the next morning. ' An evidom-c of the- sympathy for the fugitive is that at Aria the people of the township and settlers, when asked l>y the police the roid to Alangaroa. said they didn't know, although they knew the road as well as that to their own homes.

Those who know the country well slate that the number of policemen in the district is quite insufficient to scour the country. - Constable Afatthews knows most of the by-ways, but he cannot be evervAvhere.