JAIL FOR MAORI

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 151, 24 April 1940, Page 5

JAIL FOR MAORI

INCIDENT AT TE TEKO TWO CHARGES OF ASSAULT Panepa Ratehi, labourer, of Te Teko, appeared in the Police Court on Monday before Messrs G. A. Brabant and C. G, Lucas, Justices of the Peace, charged with assaulting Jack Bunn at Te Teko on March 23rd, and assaulting James Gulliver at Te Teko on tihe same date. Accused pleaded guilty to both charges Sergeant M. Farrell said that on March 23rd Ratehi, a prohibited person, had been in the Te Teko Hotel. A car, with Bunn and Gulliver in it had pulled up outside the hotel and accused had said to some of his friends, "Watch what I'm going to do with this pakeha." He then struck Bunn on the nose. Gtilliver remonstrated with accused who had then seized Gulliver by the throat and thrown him on to the car. Gulliver suffered some injuries as a results Accused had served a term of imprisonment in Mt. Eden Gaol for o previous conviction for assault.

"There is no resident constable at Te Teko," added Sergeant Farrell, "and tihere have been some complaints from residents. I would respectfully ask Your Worships to assist us in maintaining order." Accused had nothing to say when asked by the Bench. Sergeant farrell requested the Justices to impose a term of imprisonment which could be served in the Whakatane Police Gaol as a sentence to Auckland would mean an escort and at the pi'escnt time it would be difficult to spare a constable for this duty. Ratehi was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment on each charge, the terms to be concurrent.