UPHILL WORK WITH WITNESSES

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 959, 28 October 1910, Page 4

UPHILL WORK WITH WITNESSES

SOLICITOUS , PATIENCE TRIED.

Maori witnesses were numerous in .it oiyil action heard in . the Magistrate's Court, yesterday, and, as they nearly all had to havo the services of an interpreter, the patience of the lawyers on Loth sides was put to a severe test. The principal trouble was that when a witness was asked a question which admitted a plain "y«s" or "no" answer, he would never give the monosyllable, but' would, ramble off into a long discourse", which when interpreted would (as often ns noty be a description of the last illness of the witness or something equally irrelevant. The Hon. Wi Pore, M.jj.C, was one of the witnesses, and during cross-examina-tion by Mr, T. 11. Wilford delivered some very lengthy replies. "Ask him," said Sir. Wilford to the interpreter, r/ if there are wards in the Maori, language which correspond with yes and no." Ttafl question did not please the witness, and after one or two heated exchangee with counsel ho said (per medium of the interproter): "Tell him that, if ho wanta to get angry with me, I will see him outside." • .. ■ . . ■....;

_ Impatience got the better: of Mr. Wilford at one stage of the case, and he expressed the fear that he would be Unable to spare time to take any more Native cases. 1i I wanted to cross-examine this witness so as to do niy elieut jus-. tice, it would take mo Quite six hours," ho said to the magistrate. "Very well," said Mr. Hasoldcn, "I don't object if you must take sis hours."- "Oh, but I dV* said Mr. Wilford, amidst'laughter.