".... HANGS A TALE"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 215, 20 September 1940, Page 5

".... HANGS A TALE"

"ONCE UPON A TIME .... MAORI ACCUSED'S INVOLVED EX PLA NATION OF THEFT Once upon a time there was a Maori labourer, 32 years of age, by the name of Tewihioterangi Tekakara, ami this Maori, on his cwn admission, loved one, Te Waipiro, whose real name is Lil Quor. And Tewihiolerangi Tekakara's affection for Te Waipiro, as with many others before him, led him into trouble, .... Thereby hangs a tale. Messrs G. A. Biabant ami Alex Sutherland, Justices of the Peace, were on the Bench on Wednesday when the Court was treated to a lengthy and very involved story by TeAvihioterangi Tekakara, who was charged with the theft of one pair of spoke cutters and two spoke spanners, of a total value of 255, the property of Alfred John Moore. Tew .... Defendant pleaded guilty. Sergeant M. Farrell said that at about 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday accused went into Moore's cycle shop to have his cycle lamp repaired. He was seen to walk to the back of the shop with the articles detailed and when he returned he did not have them. Mr Mcore asked accused for the cutters and spanners and upon accused's refusal he telephoned the police. He was seen by two people to throw away the articles. Sergeant Farrell said that this type of offence was increasing and he requested the assistance of the Bench in its suppression. When asked whether In! had anything to say, defendant immediately launched into one of the longest Court speeches heard from a Maori. The story was too involved to piece together but it appeared that accused had been drinking heavily and his initial apotogy was on that count. "I very sorry," he said. "I drinking all day and it gone to my head. All I know X give him all sorts of talk and was swearing, for which I 'very sorry. Of course I off my head." Observing that drink did seem to have something to do with the offence, the Bench convicted .accused and fined him £3, in default two weeks' imprisonment.