RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, OPOTIKI.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 203, 15 August 1874, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, OPOTIKI.

Fkid ar, Aug rsx 7. (Before If. W. Brabant, Ksq., R.M.) Christie, an Arawa native, was brought up under warrant charged with having feloniously entered Mr IF. W. Penny’s auction mart, Wharf street, Opotiki, and abstracted therefrom about 221hs tobacco, 2 boxes scent, 1 bos cigars, 2 shirts, 1 'pair elastic side boots, 1 vest, and 6 pocket knives. Mr Cha rlea lb Bitch Held was sworn irj as interpreter. The prisoner pleaded guilty, but desired to make a statement to the effect that a conspiracy bad been got up among some of Idle Whakatohca to rob a while man ; that the first place proposed to be entered was the bake-house. That project, was, however, abandoned, and it. was decided to attempt the offices used by Mr Penny. He (prisoner) admitted the perpetration of the theft, but. accused one, Papu To Haore aa an accessory both before and after the fact. Sergeant Smith, A.C , deposed to apprehending prisoner oil the beach at Opupo ; also to obtaining some of the stolon property from the chief Ranapia. Mr H. W. Penny identified the articles produced aa being his property. Prisoner then culled two witnesses, Paora Taia and llemi Maupuimrua, to prove tout Papu Te flaero was his accomplice, but entirely failed in both cases. Tnos“ witnesses underwent a close cross-examination by Sergeant Mason, Clerk of the Court, and Constablo Joyce, during which it was elicited that, the prisoner hud given away the greater part of the goods to different natives, that, he bud been asked bow lie became possessed of them, and had replied that they were given him by Mr Penny for his services at the brewery, and for other work performed. Constable Joyce proved a previous conviction against prisoner for a robbery at Messrs Wrigley and Sou’s brewery, Taurangu. ° No evidence whatever was adduced in proof of complicity on the part of Papu To hi acre. fbo prisoner Christie was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour in Mount Eden Gaol. 'I lie prisoner, who preserved the most, stolid appearance of indifference throughout the whole of the proceeding-, departed in charge of the police to “durance vile.” This gentleman will be known to most of your subscribers in Tuuranga, Mr Editor, from Ids knowledge of the English language, and from Ida inability to distinguish the difference between the Batin words mwim and iui-ni.