NEARLY A DONNYBROOK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 297, 23 April 1941, Page 5

NEARLY A DONNYBROOK

FIGHT IN STRAND

MAORIS IN COURT

What might have been an ugly situation, was narrowly avoided by the timely arrival of the police, when suffering from an overload of waipiro four natives staged an "allin" bout in the Strand on Saturday night. They appeared at the local Court before Messrs R., AV. Schofiekl and J. G. Mulholland,- J'sP. on Monday morning and, in being fined, were, told that such behaviour in Whakatane had to stop.

Heeney Bluett, a labourer of Taneatua agedl 19 years, Patora Wat*rawa, labourer of Taneatua aged 22 years, Mack Nuku, ol' Pahu aged 32 years and Johnson Savage, labourer of Poroporo aged 19 years, were the men who faced the Bench charged with fighting in a public place. A further more serious charge, that of using obscene language, was made against Savage. Sergeant Farrell stated that, notwithstanding the fact that two of the culprits were under 21 years of age, all had had a good deal ot drink. Thfii fight had started ben tweven Bluett and Savage and an ugly situation threatened as there was a large number of natives as onlookers. Watarawi and Nuku had at first entered the fray as peacemakers but found that they received no thanks for their efforts. On the contrary one received a black eye and thus they decided to join the fray. Sergeant Farrell stated that their good intention could be taken into account. However, in regard to the additional charge against Savage, he stated that the language used had been foul and at the time a number of people, including women, had been in the vicinity. He continued that although the men ha;l previously had good characters and were good workers he. would like the Bench to impress upon them that such conduct must cease.

Bluett Wataravsa and Nuku were fined £2 each, while on the charge of fighting Savage was fined £1. Stating that the obscene language charge could entail twelve months gaol the Bench issued a strong Avarning and sentenced SaA r age to one month in the Whakatane gaol.