MAORI LAND COURT SCENE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14830, 22 November 1913, Page 15

MAORI LAND COURT SCENE.

1' COMPLAINT AGAINST A NATIVE AGENT. (SPECIAL TO "THE FItESS.") TEMUKA, November 21. An unusual incident occurred in tho Maori Land Court sitting, at Temuka, Mrs 'latino, a Nativo from Kaikoura (said to bo in aflluent circumstances), made a complaint against H. Uru, a Native land agent, resident at Christchurch. Prior to the incident, Judge Gilfedder had expressed his dislike of the methods of certain Natives, who caroo to him privately with tales concerning the misdoings of other Natives. If any hatl a grievance, let them express it in manly fashion in opon Court, and givo the persons accused an opportunity of replying. The Judge's remarks were applauded b.y tho Natives in Court. Mrs Tatine then proceeded with her grievance. She hajd advanced £300 to Uru, she said, £100 of which was to "bo invested in lanu. For the £100 sho Hot a receipt (produced). For the balance of £200 she got no receipt. She did not know what Uru had done with the £100. Out of the £200 she had received certain "dribs and drabs" from £1 upwards, ft piano, for which she had been charged £78, and a fourwheoled "flash" cart, charged to her at £55. Oh one occasion, when signing, a receipt for £1 received., she observed that the receipt form was made out for £6. Invited to give an explanation of the matter, Uru flatly denied that ho had received more than £100. This he had invested for Mrs Tatine on the basis of equal sharing of the interest earned. From (Mrs Tatine's share i of the interest .he had- paid , Bishop and Gresson £15 for expenses of defence in the murder trial, in which ' Mrs Tatine's relative was involved, j Yet Mrs Tatine had had the effrontery i to declare that she had paid Mr Gresson I this £15 personally, which Mr Gresson ' had denied. Mrs Tatine had engaged j Mr Hunt to act for her in this matter, ; and Mr Hunt had expressed himself as ■ being perfectly satisfied with his j (Uru's) dealings.' | Questioned by his Honour. Mrs! Tatine said that "she got no satisfaction from Mr Hunt,, who had not charged j her for his cervices. i His Honour: Why did he not charge? Did he tell you ? i Mrs Tatine: No. but I supposo ho, had sympathy for mo. j His Honour: Very likely. Lawyers j are gifted that way. (Laughter.) His Honour explained to the court I that Mrs Tatine. had privately shown j him Uru's receipt for»£HX), and as-: sorted that she could get no satisfac- j ion for the money. She did not say she had. been to Mr Hunt. He told hur . that she could state her grievance in' tho open court, ar.d givo Uru an i opportunity of explaining. It was now j •evident that she had received at least j some, money. Feeling that ."ho had ocen ! wronged, she 'was rienc in the first • instance to go to Mr Hunt, and it was j Mr Hunt's business to .advise her • ■whether her -n (fairs had tJf.cn satisfac-j torilv dealt with or not. It was aho Mr Hunt's business to charge her for whatever services ho rendered. ; Urn heatedly commented upon the I nnsty rumour* that v were- j»oit* z ; I about, and doclar«>d that for his own i sake he would the fvn'fvst inj vesication into this matter. Tie h.nd '. stoned out in business with nothing— His Honour: And what have yo;i \ now? "J Uru: Not very lncc'i. (Laughter.) ] Uru was to (>xr!?ii thnt h« ocn!d hold his own with the j civilised whito mop. and w*s not do- j nendent on half-rivilised Maoris like j the* complainant. his Honour urged Mm not. to talk nonsense; and the incident ended.