TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 345, 29 December 1875, Page 3

TAURANGA R.M. COURT.

Tuesday, December 28,1875. (Before B. M, Edgcumbe, Esq, J.P., and William Kelly, Esq, J.P.) Ihakura was brought up on three charges ; for being drunk and disorderly, for assaulting the police, and for using threatening lam guage on the night of the 27th instant. Evidence to tho assault on the part of the prisoner, and to tho fact of the threatening language being used, was given by Constable Whelan. The prisoner pleaded that he was drunk and did not know what he was doing. The Court overlooked the first charge on account of it being Christmas time: the second and third charge tho Court could not however overlook, but considering that tho offence oocured on the evening of a holiday, when the natives were all more or less excited, the full penalty would not be inflicted, and a mitigated punishment of seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour, only would be awarded.

Wahawaha was also charged with assaulting the police and with using threatening language on Monday night. Constable Whelan, Bub-Inspector Forster, and Constable Pierce, clearly proved the corn* mission of the first offence with which the prisoner was charged, and also that he was sober at the time. Sub-Inspector Forster considered that had he not passed by when he did and dispersed the natives, that Constable Whelan and his assistant would have been in considerable danger. The prisoner was one of the foremost in obstructing the police in the execution of their duty. Constable Whelan also gave evidence that the threaten l ing language had been used. The Court found the prisoner guilty on both charges, and as it was clearly proved that he was not drunk, he was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour. William Duncan, a black man, for being drunk and disorderly on the same night, was let off with a caution on account of it being holiday lime.