WINDOW CHARGED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 170, 21 July 1942, Page 6

WINDOW CHARGED

MAORI'S ESCAPADE INCIDENT IN WHANGAREI (0.C.) WHANGAREI, this day. Released from the army to work in a King Country State coal mine. Rewiti Te Tapu, aged 23, a Maori soldier, according to the police story told in the Whangarei Police Court to-day, became drunk, charged a plate-glass window in Rathbone Street, crashed right through and, when held by Maori soldiers pending the arrival of the police, shouted obscene language. Te Tapu pleaded guilty to a charge of using obscene language, and also to wilfully breaking a glass window valued at £2 10/, thereby committing mischief.

Senior Sergeant Henderson said that late last evening the police were called to Rathbone Street and found To Tapu held by Maori soldiers, and shouting obscene language. "He seemed to have gone quite mad." said Air. Henderson. "He was under the influence of liquor." Te Tapu had told the pi lice that he had a wallet containing .110. which was now missing. Now he had only Sid. His travelling warrant weilt with the wallet.

Te Tapu said that 30/ was still owing to him by the army. He said he knew nobody in Whangarei who would help him if he was allowed to leave.

In ordering Te Tapu to come up lor sentence within six months if callcd upon. Mr. Raymond Ferner. S.M., ortiered him to stay with the police while inquiries were made, and also to get to work in The mine as quickly as possible. He was receiving lenient treatment, and if he failed to work he would be brought boiore the Court and sent to gaol on the present charges. He was also ordered to make restitution.