The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1877.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 731, 22 February 1877, Page 2

The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1877.

The recapture of the murderer, Te Patue, within a few hours of the commission of his bloody deed at Ngaruawahia, before reaching- the King country; will be a feather in the cap of the Waikato Constabulary. From the first moment when the. escape was discovered, to the bringing in the prisoner bound to Alexandra, a prompt decision and bold action characterised the conduct of all those who took part in the. capture. A little while and he would have been in that Alsatia of thieves and murderers, the Court of King Tawhiao, but for the forethought which put the telegraph in motion, and the excellent arrangements made for intercepting him. And this leads us to notice a matter which is deserving the attention of the telegraph department, that all offices should be supplied with a bell, placed near the operator's bedroom, which may be rung by the instrument from any other office. Of the two places with which the Ngaruawahia operator; endeavoured to communicate, Alexandra and Hamilton, it was only at the former place he was able to awaken the operator by the clicking of 1 the instrument. Had both been heavy sleepers,, the murderer would have escaped to the King country, and the ridiculous: farce of I'iWiniata, wanted " would have teen acted over again. There is no telling what emergency may arise which may render it necessary to communicate in the public interest from one telegraph office to another, and the means of doing so,' for extraordinary occasions, Should be available. "':'. h : . ' .'•....' h