TRIAL OF RUA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2828, 20 July 1916, Page 7

TRIAL OF RUA

A MAGISTRATE GIVES EVIDENCE. By Tclejrra.Dli-Press Association-Oopyiieht Auckland, July 19. Several witnesses gave 'evidence in re- . buttal in the Rua trial to-day. Inspector Sheehan swore positively that he did not iire. a shot at Maungapohatu. "Witness did not carry .a rifle, and his revolver was never removed from its case. 'Hho inspector also swore that before the police advanced to the marae he saw Constable Skinner exchange his revolver for a rifle. Cross-examined by JMr. Lundon, witness said that while on the'marae ho kept Constable Skinner in sight, and witness did not see him firo a shot. It was not true that the Native women were forced to sleep outside without blankets. Interesting testimony with a strong flavour of reminiscence was by Helyer Widdowburn Bishop, Stipendiary Magistrate, of Christchurcb, who remarked that he was senior Magistrate of'the. Dominion "and still going strong." From 1873 to 1876 witness was translator and occasional interpreter for Sir Donald M'Lean, the then JJativo Minister. He said that the meaning, of the words said to have been uttered by Rua, "Ho pu era lio kino," was "Those.jare guns. They aro evil." The meaning of "Patua, patua," was "Kill, kill." Witness tolated threo occurrences io w.hich he was concerned in the early days of Hokianga. During the year 1877 there was a tribal disturbance at Pojiaketere, and as an armed party approached the pa a man rushed out in front of his people and said, "Patua, patua," at the same time giving a kind of war dance. Immediately following this shots were fired, and two of the Natives were killed. Another instanco of the use of the expression occurred at Otaua (Hokianga). As one tribo advanced tho loader of the home tribo rushed out calling "Patua, patua." A freo exchange of Wows followed, resulting in death. Robert William Dyer, Stipendiary Magistrate, gavo evidenco as to tho convictions ljhicli ho imposed upon prisoner in tho Whakatano Police Court in 1911 and again in 1915. Witness stated positively that he told Rua that ho was making a groat mistake if ho thought he could fight tho law, as lie would find the law stronger than lie.