Untitled

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 130, 1 March 1928, Page 12

There is at least one man in Auckland who cannot lay claim to be strong in remembering dates (says the “Star”!. Of middle age and an artisan, he was called as a witness in the Magistrate’s Court lhe other afternoon to give evidence in respect of a property dispute. Ho said I hat a certain transaction took place before tho war. "AVhen was that?” asked cross-examining counsel. “I don’t know.” was the laconic and rather astonishing reply, In a further effort to fix I lie date and to stimulate the mental processes of the witness, »ttnsel asked: “Do yon know when the Great War Qsntod?” Again came tbe almost unbelievable reply in the negative. Somebody winked, but Bis Worship did not When the Maori chief Te Kooti was acquitted on a charge of treason laid •v'ainst him. he presented his counsel, the late W. J. Napier, with his own greenstone more. Recentlv Mrs Napier gave the mere Io the Auckland Museum (says ■in exchange). When it was to Mr. Napier thousands of Natives fathered and a great feast was held in his honour Fifteen inches long nnd about an ineh throng’' <t its thickest part, the mere i<’ heautifnllv coloured, and is regarded ns m.e of the most valuable in the museum. T.ike so many oilier Maori relies, it was bid for bv AmenB ,rbo wanted it tot the Smithsonian tnu-fP-te. tbe mnrviane of tbe rorter of New- „, > r t-e't 'U.-.’-I:hon=e to a nurse at t’m in-G.-marv ’romps formed a mmr ’ of honour, holding their tea-cans aloft.