FINED TEN POUNDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 245, 10 July 1919, Page 3

FINED TEN POUNDS

MAORI WITH A REVOLVER SERGEANT WADE COMMENDED The disturbance which happened on Thormloti Station during the lunch hour on Tuesday, was investigated foelove Mr. I l '. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court Yesterday. The offender, a power-ful-looking Maori named Nuku Nuku Kunia, was arraigned 011 charges of using obscene language and of assaulting Kdward Alexander Dawson, statioumaster, by pointing a loaded revolver at him. Senior-Sergeant Willis prosecuted, and Mr. 11. XI. Stowell acted as interpreter. Station officials gave evidence to the effect that the defendant entered the parcels office and booked his iuggage through to Napier. Following ILis, defendant, who was under the influence of liquor, appeared to he under the impression that he was at the Defence Stores, .is he demanded .£5 in exchange for his military overcoat. Ho then be. cauie very violent., and made use of the language complained of, Every endeavour was made to pacify the accused, but his condition became worse, and he began to threaten everyone on the station. As soon as the accused was informed that the police would he called ho produced the revolver, and 6aid that some one would have to go before he did. The police were then called, and Stationmaster Dawson endeavoured to remove him. .The accused pointed the revolver at Mr. Dawson, and said: "Someone will have to die before I'm taken/'

Sergeant Wado and Plain-clothes Constablo Holmes gave corroborative evidence. The accused was drunk, and 'his attitude was very threatening.' The accused had nothing to say beyond the fact that he was very drunk at the time, and could not remember anything about it.

Senior-Sergeant Willis said the accused was oonvicted in 1916 for using obscene language.

His Worship, in summing up, said that the whole trouble was 'attributable to drink. Had it not been for tlio intervention of Sergeant Wade someone .would have boon shot. It was not everyone who would be prepared to tackle a drunken Maori, who was brandishing ft loaded revolver. Sergeant Wade mid Constable Holmes deserved every' credit for their plucky action, particularly -Sergeant Wade, whose action was worthy of every praise* "If it had not been for Sergeant Wade you might have been in gaol on a charge of murder, with the rope hanging over your head. It is n wonder that the Defonce authorities do Hot consider the question of prohibiting Maoris from retaining revolvers after their return from the front, even though they may bo their own property." The defendant would-be fined ,£10" for the assault, and ordered to pay 10s. Gd. -interpreter's fee. On the charge of \iirin? obscene language lie would be convicted and disc.hn.rged. Accused would also be nwle the subject of a Maori prohibition order. '