TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 29, 11 December 1872, Page 3

TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

Satubxay, Peosmbeu 7. [Before Henry Claeki, Esq., R.M.] DkTJNK BNNEBB. A man charged with this offence was treated in the usual manner. James Salt was lined 5s and coats for a similar offence. Bab Lasqpage. The accused whs also convicted of using *,V- — : —<~t Xanona Unflimue towards Mr Chadwick. Tho Bench severely cautioned the defendant, and inflicted the small fine of 20s, in consequence of defendant’s generally industrious habits. Tho fine was paid. Monbat, December 9, [Before IT k nut Clarke, Esq., K.M., and Major Roberts j APPLICATION JOB SPECIAL LICENSE, Mr W. H. Beo.net applied lor permission to sell liquors, under his license for the Tauranga Hotel, at the Government Paddock on the occasion of the Tauranga Races. The Bench said that a similar license had already been granted to Mr Morrison, of the Victoria Hotel, and they were of opinion that one booth would be sufficient in order to maintain order. The application must therefore bo refused,. Mr Sennet said tho refusal would be injurious to his business. He was under very’ heavy expenses in keeping his hotel, aud he considered all the local publicans should have tho same privileges accorded them on an occasion like the one referred to. Tho Bench reminded Mr Bennet that in one instance ho had been the sole proprietor of the race booth, and the matter dropped. ALLEGED HORSE STEALING. Pani, a native, was brought up on remand, charged with this offence. Mr Hopkins Clarke acted as interpreter. Sergeant Naden conducted the prosecution. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. Alfred Saunders deposed : I am a settler, residing at Tauranga. The horse outside the Court is mine ; had it since it was a foal. The horse was broken in, and used to run at the Quarter Acres principally when in my possession ; saw it frequently. It was branded on near shoulder. (Copy of brand produced and identified by prosecutor.) Missed tho horse from Te Papa at the end of July, or commencement of August-, 1871 ; prisoner at this time lived near tho Roman Catholic Chapel, and must have known the animal belonged to me ; remernb red accompanying Sergeant Naden to Te Teko about the middle of November ; saw my horse at that place ; another brand was placed over mine ; my brand was tampered with, but I can still identify it; the horse’s tail was docked, and one car clipped, when I saw it at Te Teko, 1 recognised the boras again immediately although there was an alteration in its general appearance ; there is a mark which a stranger would not be likely to notice—a few white hairs on the forehead ; I valued the horse at £7. By the prisoner : I did not see you steal the horse, or brand it; tho horse was not in your possession at Te Teko when I found it ; I have asked you about tho horse several limes; you told mo you had seen it at Maketu a short time after I missed it. George Young, blacksmith, Te Papa, gave confirmatory evidence respecting the owner’s f .d. Haimona, an aboriginal native, depose.- ; I belong to tho Native Contingent, sta'ioned at Kaitereria ; I remember riding a horse of Mr William Butt from Maketu to Tauranga; I remember meeting the prisoner on my way from , Kaitereria; it was then T purchased the horse

now outside the Court from him ; it was in 1871 j I am not. sure whether in Novetnh**-or December. I paid £3 for the horse ; tb .motion took place near the pa at were standing near a fence at the time 5 there were several others there ; ho simply agreed to take £3, and I gave it. Timoli and Matene Makawa, aboriginal native#, deposed to the sale of the horse by the first witness as his property) by the prisoner. Sergeant Naden deposed : About October 18, 1871, Mr Sanders, sen., the father of the owner of horao in question, told mo ho hail lost a horse, which he believed had boon stolen, throe month* previously ; I made enquiry, and sent a report to the head of my department ; about. November 13 last I beard the horse had been seen at Te Toko ; I arrived at To Teko about November 15, with first witness, and found the horse in some flax : Sanders identified it. On the 26tli November I arrested prisoner at Tarere, or King’s settlement, near Opotiki. Cross-examined : I arrested you on account of information 1 had received ; 1 don’t know who had possession of the horse at Te Toko ; I found him in the flax ; I was told by the chief there that a boj’ named To Mori had left it there. This concluded the case for the prosecution. The prisoner made a long rambling statement, to the effect that the native witnesses had perjured themselves, and that ho was entirely innocent of the charge. Ho called upon Hapuka, a Maori, who deposed that ho had seen a Maori named Haimona riding away from Te Papa on the horao alleged to bava been stolen in August, 1871_W. A. Butt was also called by the prisoner, but I his evidence was unimportant. Nathan, a native, stated that lie had soon Haimona at Mat.apihi, riding the horse now outside the Court— felt certain it was the same. Cross-examined by Sergeant Naden ; It was daylight when the horse was pointed out to mo j I could not see the brand ; the ear had not been marked ; X believe the horse to belong to young Sanders , the horse outside the Court 1 believe to bo the same one ; it took place just after the Land Court ; I had crossed Haimona, with a brown horse, previously j I know him to bo an orderly, and to use horses of different colours. The Bench considered the evidence adduced in prisoner’s favour in no way contradicted the charge against him. The prisoner would be committed to take his trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court, Auckland. TtTESDAY, DrCBMBKB 10. J_Before Major .Roberts, R.M.j XJRtTNKEKNKSS. A buslmmn charged with this offence was fined 5s and costs, or in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. PETTY tAECENt. Hapita, a native, was brought up in custody, charged with having, on the 24th November last, stolen two shirts and two flannel garments from the store of Messrs Samuels and Jacobsohn, at Te Teko. The prisoner acknowledged the theft of one shirt. Oa 4T,0 o.pptioa.ti<?» <>f 9«rgon.nt Naden, the case was adjourned until Monday next.