TRIAL OF RUA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2814, 4 July 1916, Page 6

TRIAL OF RUA

LIVELY INTERLUDE

COUNSEL AND A WITNESS ,

By Telegraph—Fress Association,

Auckland, July 3. 'Che twenty-second day of the trial of Kua before Air. Justice Chapman in the Supreme Court was largely taken up with tho hearing of expert evidence as to the meaning of the words alleged to have been used by Una on the occasion of his arrest.

AVilliam Baucke, of Otorohanga, said he was an interpreter with 08 years' experience of the ilaori language, and had been led by the newspaper reports of the trial to volunteer evidence with reference to the meaning of the. expressions which accused is alleged to have used immediately prior to his arrest. If Rua said to his followers (when the police were approaching), "He pu era he kino," ho would mean "Those are guns, Thev are creating disturbances. They are evil." Mr. Lundon-. It is suggested that the Natives were in ambush with guns, and that as accused was running towards them he used the words "Patua! Patua 1" How do you interpret that?—lt occurred to me that it was an incorrect expression that a Maori would not be likely to use.

The word in its simplest form means to strike?— Yes, but used alone it would be meaningless, 1 His Honour: Well, supposing we have It; that he, did use that, term? —I would still question it. My intimate acquaintance with Maori, and Maori war terms would immediately remove from my mind tne likelihood of a Native of Kua's standing having used the word alone. His Honour: Well, then, ■ witnesses must have heard only half the sentence? -Ye 3. . Used by . itself tho word patua ("strike," "charge," or ''war") would be meaningless. Mr. Lundon: Might not Kua have been asking the police to kill him P—lt is quite likely that a Maori of his influence would do so', he being so'degraded, and having boastod of divine 'potentialities. Mr. Tole (with startling suddenness): Are you a German, Mr. Baucke?—No. Are you not German by extraction?--Yes. X am an Englishman bom of Ger. man parents. You aTe of German blood: Your father 'was a German?—l don't know. - I never had my blood chemically examined. But your father was German?— Yes. He was an early missionary in Now Zealand. I should like to explain— Mr. Tole: I 'don t want to hear the whole genealogy. Mr. Lundon: Be fair to witness. Ho desires to explain. Mr. Tole oontended that the word "patua" was' a verb transitive, meaning to "strike," "beat." "thresh." to "illtreat'in any way," or "to kill." Witness Teiterated his contention that when used alone the word was meaningless. Mr. Lundon (re-examining): What was the explanation Mr. Tole would not let' you make wben he asked you about your parentage ? Witness (emphatically): Simply this. I am such a loyal subject, more loyal than anybody in this Courthouse, that I recognise the-flag as. my property. Mr. Tole: Many of the Germans say that. Witness: I —— 'Mr, Tole: They all say that. Witness: I resent any imputation being made against me as a member of the British Empire. . Mr. Lundon: I think you hold correspondence from Mr. Massey. Witness (excitedly): I have a packet of correspondence, which I keep for. reference in these ticklish times, and I am very sorry I did not bring it. The words .in that letter were: "Don't you trouble. Yon nre as loyal as I am!" Mr. Tole, who was granted permission to put a further ouestion, asked whether it was not. a fact that witness, while sitting in Court on Fridav. said disparaging -remarks about his (Mr. Tole's) crossexaminatioh. and that his remarks were ?() objectionable,as to cause the Commissioner of Police, who was sitting next to him to tell him that he must leavo the Court? . . ■ .Witness:. No. That is an absolute distortion of the truth. ' Mr. Tole: The Comn>'ssioti«r remonstrated, did he not?—He told me to come out. and had it not been that ,T did not desire to ennee n scene T.shonld have told him to mind his own business. I considered it .nothing but impertinence for him to say what he did. What did you say that catf=ed him tp. snoiilc?—l merely breathed the words. "Waste of time," and I was insulted by a person without authority, when I had committed no.offence. Mr. 1'ole: You should have minded yoi'r own business. MrifLundon: At that, time'did yon know who was august personage who spoke to you?—No- • • "A Native interpreter, residing in Auckland, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness with regard to tho expressions \ said to have been used -bv Rua. . ' '