THEFT OF ALE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 7, 12 September 1944, Page 5

THEFT OF ALE

TAKEN FROM TANEATUA

CHARGES OF RECEIVING

When Pita Te Pere of Taneatua was Seized with the idea of stealing two cases of bottled ale from the (Store room of the Taneatua Hotel on the evening of August 26tli f he little thought that he with five other Maoris (charged' with receiving) would be facing the court, within less than a fortnight later. However such was the and the charges were heard before Messrs T. J. Cummings and J. G. Mulholland, J.Ps; in the Whakatane Court last Friday. Pite Te Pere, who pleaded guilty was sentenced to one month's imprisonment after Sergeant Farrell had related how he had first seen the store room open and had then perceived the idea of removing the cases with the help of some friends. This they had done., with the result that the liquor had be,en taken some distance away and distributed amongst other Maoris. Much had been traccd but there were still seven dozen bottles at large to the value of £9 16s. Five Maoris- who admitted having received the liquor knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained were also - charged and were, fined as under: Wharcpapa Kohunui ( fined £3 (restitution 4/6); Tini Uatuku £3 (27/6); Renata Numea £3 (9/-); Ralph Kerena Reiiu £5 (27-/); Tami Te Whetu £5 (13/6). With regard to the, above, Sergeant Farrell said that they w T ei*e all men of good character ? who did not know anything of the theft until afterwards. Three of them had served overseas with the Maori Battalion.