LOVE OF HORSEFLESH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2137, 20 July 1907, Page 4

LOVE OF HORSEFLESH.

LANDS A MAORI IN TROUBLE. ACCUSED COMMITTED EOR TRIAL £ A Maori youth named Rangi Ho- g teno was charged at tho S.M. Court a vestvrdav, before Air. Barton, S.M., t "with having on Deeomher last stolen [ a hack mare, valued at Lib, tho prop- c vrty of a countryman named t’olioi t Amaru. . Tho prosecutor, Polioi Amaru, ap- c i»"arcd to 1)0 ill ami was, nccommodat- L od with a seat in tho witness box. } lio stated that he resided at To Ivara- , k;t, and know tho accused. In Opt- i O hoi\ 1906, the accused camo to linn c about securing the use of a horso , whilst ho broke it in. AVitness had , an unbroken ntyre. and it was agrcod ; that, accused should have tho uso of ( h. look after it well ami return it v. lieu thoroughly broken in. W itness a "reed to pay £1 for Ids services in , hroaking-in. 110 saw nothing ot , Rangi until tlirco months later lio 1 -net him at the AVhatntutu races. AVitness asked “AVlioro is my liorso? ( ami accused replied, “At AVaoronga- , a-hika.” AVitness told him to return , the horse, anil Rangi agreed-to do so. He failed to do so, however, and still i had possession. AVitness had not 1 seen tlio liorso since until this morn- , ing when tho animal was m tho hands ( of tlio police. Boloro tho horse was ■ broken in witness rofused £lO tor it, . and considered its value was £lo. tlio accused had no authority to dispose of tlio liorso. .. „ Accused wont on to ask questions, to show lio had returned the horse. Tlio informant tleuied that tho liorso was over returned. Accused nover brought, tho horse to To Ivara'ka or returned it to him. Edward Thompson, a drover and dealer residing at To Knruka, saul ho knew tho accused by sight- Witness met him at Ormond on December 13th last. Accused brought a liorso up tho road. AVitness asked lum it it was for sale, and accused said y&s. AA’itness thou said “I have a little mare that I will exchange.” To this tho accused would not agree, considering it. not. a fair exchange. After some bargaining witness agreed to givo life own innro and £6 to boot. -Accused spoke to otlier natives, and after a while agreed to tho exchange, which was effected. AVitness produced the receipt for the transaction. It was written out by a man named Geddie, and signed by witness and the accused. Tlio wit ness saw tlio hoi so outside the Court, and identified by the informant, was tho one exchanged by accused. AA’itness sold the animal in the sale the same day to Carl Robert Hinckesman. Carl Robert Hinckesman, settler, or Waimata*, said he know the last witness, Edward Thompson, by sight. Thompson put the horse into the saleyard on December 13th, and witness purchased it. Witness subscquentlv sold the horse to Gilbert Norris, who was then a shepherd at Kiore station. The brand and description corresponded with the particulars furnished by the informant. Takarurua Makarini, a station hand, of Takapo, stated that ho had seen the horse outside the Court. It was identical with the one which witness bought from Gilbert Norris. (Receipt produced). The police communicated with him concerning the horse, and he handed it over to the police. Rawahi Houin, wife of informant, Polioi Amaru, gave evidence as to the accused taking the horse away some time- before December last. The witness’ evidence being too vague. Detective Maddern agreed a itli the S.M. that ill the event of a committal it was no use calling tlic witness to give evidence before the Supreme Court. Constable Doyle. stationed at ic TCaraka, was called to show that the AVhatatutu races were held on Boxing Day last. Accused reserved his defence,plead- | ed not guilty, and was committed for trial at the next criminal sessions. Bail was allowed on accused's recogj nisance of £SO and two sureties of I £25 each.