SUPREME COURT, WANGANUI.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3677, 27 April 1883, Page 3

SUPREME COURT, WANGANUI.

AVanganui, Thursday

The trial of Hata Rio for perjury resulted in the Maori jury convicting the prisoner, but recommending him to mercy. Sentence was postponed. "The Chief Justice commented strongly on the conduct of Mr Duncan, the lawyer, aud Mr M'Donnell the interpreter, in having allowed tho prisoner to commit the perjury in the Supreme Court, after he (the prisoner) had told them in Mr Duncan's own office that he intended to say what was not true, in the hope of being pa id for it. Colonel M'Donnell made an explanation of his conduct in the matter, which the Chief Justice deemed satisfactory to a certain extent, but he pointed out that Mr Duncan's conduct remained unexplained. Mr Duncan was not only the solicitor on the record in the ejectment case, in which Hata Rio committed the perjury, but was the counsel who called and examined him in Court. Poharanui, charged with unlawfully wounding his wife was also tried before a Maori jury, but was acquitted on the ground of insanity. The Chief Justice ordered him to be detained till the Colonial Secretary's pleasure should be known. Both trials were conducted without difficulty. The two Maori juries were intelligent, and their behaviour and verdict not distinguishable from Europeans under similar circumstances. Poharanui challenged fifteen of his countrymen before a jury could be ompannelled. This day. In tho case against Hata Rio, for perjury, His Honor delivered sentence that the prisoner be kept in gaol for six months. A charge against John Cooper Jowctt, for carnally assaulting a girl 0 years of age, is now proceeding. It is a most disgusting case.