A MAORI ROMANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1379, 14 February 1905, Page 3

A MAORI ROMANCE.

A FICKLE LOVER, ELOPEMENT, AND LAWSUIT. QUESTION OF MAORI CUSTOM. (Pen Press Association.) Auckland, last night. Me Justice Edwards had a delicate little love affair to straighten out in the Auckland Supreme Court this morning. Prisoner at the bar was a quarter-oaste Maori youth named Ernest Martin, who was charged with abduoting a Maori girl of 14 years, named Ngawai Ekana. He pleaded guilty. According to hie counsel, Mr Mahony, the little affair occurred at Matakahe. where Ernest was courting Ngawai’s sister. In Ngawai’s heart there grew up a feeling of fondness for this young man, and the fondness was reflected m her behavior towards him with such effect that he became fascinated. She put herself in his way so much that his affection for the older sister cooled, and when at last she suggested an elopement the

last she suggested an elopement the transfer of his affeotions became complete. They started across country for a neigh-' boring native settlement. They wore under the impression that there was no reason why the \ girl should not do so. Their flight was. discovered, and they wore overtaken and brought back to Vlatakohe. Here tho would be bridegroom was charged; before the magistrate with abducting a'girl under legal ago, and he was committed for trial. He married the girl with the full consent of the parents on ooth sides. Tho accused youth had now become a member of the girl’s family, and the couple had been living on the property of the bride’s father, who owned considerable property. The position of the case now was that the husband was in court os the accused man and the wife as a possible witnoss against him. Counsel asked His Honor to allow a little sentiment to penetrate even into a court of law, so that these young people might begin their married life under favor>bie conditions. Amy wrong done to the girl had been righted in an honorable way. His Honor asked that the girl should come forward that he might see her. After His Honor had spoken to her, the girl’s father, Honi Tana, was examined on oath, and stated that he consented to marriage under pressure of accused’s parents. Neither the father, the native interpreter, nor the native lay preacher, who married the young couple, could inform His Honor that marriage at 14 years wa3 in accordance with the Maori ideals of proper morality, and His Honor, therefore, deferred hiß deoision till next Friday, in order that the Bev. W. Gittos (suggested by Mr Mahony) might be examined as to Maori customs.