ASSAULT CASE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 68, 28 April 1944, Page 5

ASSAULT CASE

INCIDENT AT TE TEKO

£25 IN FINES

What to all intents and purposes developed into something after „ the. nature of a brawl in the Tuteao Hall, Te Teko, on Anzac Day found echo in the Whakatane Court last Wednesday, when Mataiki Mason, facing two charges of assault, and one of obscene language was tried before Messrs G. A. Brabant and T. J. Cummings, J.Ps. According to the" police, the incident had taken place during the rehearsel of some Maori action songs at the hall. Sergeant Farrell stated that Mate Mason, defendant's wife had entered the. hall in a dishevelled condition, and obviously distressed. Shortly after, Mason himself entered and started quarrelling with his wife linally,' striking her several times and dragging her by the hair. At this stage, James Carroll Hikitene who was also* present at the time, intervened, but Mason turned on him and assaulted him also. Later at the hall, accused w T as heard to use obscene language. Mason, who pleaded guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily stated that he was drunli at. the time and blamed the liquor for his offence, but offered to take out a prohibition order for five years. Accused was fined £22 on the first two charges of assault, and £3 for using obscene, language, with the condition that lie take out the prohibition order immediately. He was also ordered to' make restitution to the extent of 25s to Hikitene whose jumper was torn in the fracas.

Local Elections and Polls Act, 1925" and amendments and "The Harbours Act, 1923," and other acts if any, I hereby give notice that, an election will be held on Saturday, the 27th day of May, 1944, for the purpose of electing -members, for the Omataroa, Taneatua, Opouriao, Rangitaiki and Waimana subdivisions of the Whakatane Harbour District. Excepting only Rangitaiki subdivision, where three members have to be elected, only one member is required for each of the other subdivisions, and I hereby appoint the Whakatane .County Council Office, Whakatane as the place and Monday the 15th day of May, 1944, BEFORE: NOON, as the day and time for nomination of candidates fot such oil'ice. Nomination .forms may be. obtained on application to the undersigned. A deposit of £3 must accompany each nomination. Dated at Whakatane this 28th day of April, 1944. C. G. LUCAS, 253 Returning Officer.