I practise."* Towards the close of Collins* career in 1810 he endeavoured to establish a newspaper, but it did not prosper. In Davey's time (1814) it was temporarily revived, but sank again, and was only fledged for lasting life in 1816, with the title of the Hoburt Town Gazette (Uftl Sintlhertt liejjorter, Ne%'ertheless there were stirring eventn in the little com- munity. Biinhrangers — runaway" convicts who had become robbers — exercised a reign of terror in the sparsely inhabited districts* The columns of the Sffdneij (uuette furnish a picture of Van Diemen's Land. Macqoarie, in May 1812, subjected the Port Dalrymple settlement to that at Hobart Town, In May 1814 it was announced that the late Actg, Dep. Surveyor of Lands at Port Dalrymple, and another man, late Actg. Dep. Commissary of Stores and Provisions at the same place, had *' unlawfully absconded into the woods," **and put themselves at the head of divers pro- fligate and disorderly persons, convicts, and others Twenty-seven w'ere named. Amongst them was Michael Howe, afterwards a notorious ruffian,^ AH were required to
- Bigffe-s Report. Judicial RstabHshTOents. House of Commons Papers.
Feb. 18^3.
- It woukl hv. till profitable to record tbc exploits of buslirangerp gener*
ally, biit a.s niiicli lias been written about Howe, a few Hues fiiay be neces- fttiry. He had been a sail or. Having been convicted of highway robbery, he was ttiinsported to Hobart in 181*2. He joined the band spoken of in the text. Hii^ thieveries were numerous. He was aasisred in some of bis escapes by an aboriginal girl who accompanied him. A scouting party, ' led by an 0% uer of a st'liooner, attacked Howe and his numerous comradea»^^H Five of the assailant Si were killed. SoIdieiB were sent to garrison the home'^^ stead of the unsuccessful owner of the schooner. When the buBhrangers in their turn attacked, they were beaten off with loss. Their leader, Wbitehead, was shot ; and Howe, in purauanee of a compact, cut off hia comrade's head to prevent its falling into the hands of the (jovernment. Howe became the captain of the band, and called himself the ** (Governor of the Eangtfa.*' He took the life of any member of tbe gang who offended him. A convict, WorraU, who yearned for the free pardon offered for the capture of Howe, was i^ealouy in aiding the Holdier^. In a race for life, the black girl, following Howe closely and guiding hia flight to intricate faat- nesacs, coiihl not keep up with him. The rascal urged her to speed, but her strength wa.s exhausted. He shot her, and escaped in a ravine. She was not killed, but her aflection for him was quenched. She aide i hia pursuers. At laat Howe was alone. He was once captured, but slipped from the cord» which bouufi him, killed one of his captors, and, wounding the other mortally, escaiied. But Colonel Soreirs nieasure» were effective WiUi&m Pugb, an intelligent and du^iVui^ ftoldiev: , concealed hiniaelf I active. S witbfl
