Police Intelligence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 330, 7 December 1865, Page 2

Police Intelligence.

TUESDAY, sth DECEMBER. [Before John Curling, Esquire, R.M.] ASSAVLT. With reference to the case of assault which tools place at Waikari on the sth October last, the fob lowing additional evidence was taken : George Farrow, deposed—l reside at Waikari, and look after Mr John Harding’s station there. On the sth October lust, the prisoner (Kohikohi) and some other Maoris came across the river to Mr Harding’s house, where tlio latter and myself were at breakfast. He was in a great rage, and said wo had killed a goat belonging to him on the run about a fortnight previously. Ho demanded £3 for (he goat, and said that if he did not get that he would take Mr Harding’s canoe. Mr Harding offered him £l, but he would not accept it. Mr Harding and he went out together. They went to the landing place, where the canoe was, and Mr Harding got into it. When I went down Kohikohi had hold of the rope by which the canoe was fastened, to take it away. I got between him and the river and also took hold of the rope. Mr Harding and I told Kohikohi to go away, and return when his anger was abated; and then we could either settle the matter between ourselves, or refer it to Mr Heighten, the Resident Magistrate at Wniroa. Kohikohi said that he was a llau-liau, and that Hau-huus had nothing wherever to do with the Government. He was all this time trying to get into the canoe, with the evident intention of assaulting Mr Harding.— 1 behove, of murdering him. He was ina terrible rage: and when he found 1 would not let him into the canoe he took a paddle from another native, and tried to get into the canoe with it. To prevent him I cut tile rope and set the canoo afloat. As soon as I did that he knocked me into the water. (By knocking mo into the water 1 mean that he struck me a blow or gave me a posh which caused me to fall into the water. I believe it was a, blow.) In tiiat place ■the water nas 7 or S feet deep. When I rose to. the surface he stiuek rao with ti e paddle; after that he struck me twice more on the head, I

did not feel tile two last blows as I did the first. (Here witness was cross-examined at considerable length by the Resident Magistrate, who endeavored to cast doubt upon the statement of bis beingstruck more than once.) When I again rose to the surface I saw Mr Harding falling out of the canoe, and Eohikohi standing iu the river—the water being up to his knees. 1 did not see wbat caused him to fall, as I was under water. (The Resident Magistrate here remarked that Mr Harding bad stated that his falling into the water was caused by the shock given to the canoe by witness being pushed in. This was by far the most probable reason, which would reduce that circumstance to an accident.) I managed to get into the canoe myself. Eohikohi then turned the paddle round in his hand, and dashed it at my eye. I warded the blow off with my arm. Ho took a ser cond aim, but his wife interposed and prevented him from striking me. Mr Harding did not call: out to me to cut the painter.” He was trying to persuade Eohikohi to go away. I received* one severe wound on the head, which bled profusely.. It was so deep that a man might have laid his little finger in it. It was inflicted by the first blow. The other blows must have fallen in the same place. I did feel the two last blows, but did not experience any pain from them. The first had in a manner stunned me, and nearly deprived me of sensation. (The Resident Magistrate here cross, examined the witness, observing that he could not feel the blows if he did not feel pain ; that when a man was stunneclhe was totally deprived of sensation, &0., &e.; ap’d attempted to prove that he (witness) had only received one blow.) In reply to a question from his Worship, the witness stated that lie and the prisoner had. up to that date, been the best of friends. His Worship then said that it was very evident that the assault had been committed on the impulse of the moment, and not from any ill-feeling towards the parties. Mr John Alien was then called, and, being sworn, deposed : —I was at Mr Harding’s house on the sth of October, when lie and Mr Farrow were at breakfast. (The Resident Magistrate here asked whether it was a whare or hut.) Mr Harding’s house—a good, four-roomed house. when the prisoner and some orher Maoris came across the river to us. I heard a conversation which I partly understood, between Mr Harding and the prisoner about a goat which had been killed by the former. The prisoner claimed £!i or Mr Harding’s canoe for the goat. He was refused the money, and so went to the river for the canoe. Mr Harding, Mr Farrow, and the natives went after him, and I followed. Mr Hardin? went into the canoe, and the prisoner tried to get in after him for the purpose of taking it away. Mr Farrow stood at f!ie head of the canoe, in front of the Maori, holding on to the painter, to prevent the Maori from taking it away. The Maori also laid hold of it, while angry words were passim' between him and Mr Harding—neither party seeming inclined to submit. Mr Farrow persuaded Mr Harding to offer the Maori £1 to pacify him. He would not. accept (hat, and was told to go away until his anger had subsided when the matter could be either settled between themselves or by Mr Brighton. The angry conversation still continued between Mr Harding and the Maori, —the latter saying that he, being-a llau-hau, had nothing at all to do wit!) Mr Deigidon or the Government. To put an end to this discussion, Mr Farrrow cut the rope, Koliikolii at once pushed him into the water, and while there struck him two or three blows on the head with the paddle, with all his might.

Resides? Magistrate This is the most important part of Ihe evidence, Can you positively swear to the unit of prisoner having struck Mr Farrow more than one blow ?

WitnessKohikohi certainly struck at. him several times with the paddle : and Ifully believe he was struck more than once.

llis Worship wished for a decided answer—yes or no. Could he swear that he saw more than one blow take effect ? Witness could not. llis Worship made a remark to the effect that that point was settled.

Witness continued : —Mr Farrow managed to get into shallower water, where he could stand,, when the prisoner reversed the paddle and aimed a blow with the handle at Mr Farrow’s face with all his might; but the latter managed to ward it off. Had that blow taken effect, Mr Farrow would not have been where he now was. Ivoiiikohi then took another aim ; but his wife said something to him, and she dissuaded him, but ha (witness) did not know what shesaid. Kohikohi thou took hold of the canoe with his hands, tipped it toone side, and pitched Mr Harding into the water.. Ills Worship : —Do you know whether he intended to kill Mr Harding ? Witness : —lt had every appearance of it.

His Worship :— I wssh for a decided answer. Do you know wherher he intended to kill Mr; Harding ? Witness:—lt is hard to tell what is passingin a man’s mind. Ido not know. I firmly believe be intended to drown Mr Harding. He> (Ivobikohi) then jumped into the canoe, and paddled away, without rendering the slightest assistance to Mr Harding, who was drowning in the river. Another native came up in a canoe and saved Mr Hardi. g. Had it not been for this, timely assistance Mr Harding must have lost his life.

Upon the evidence being translated to the Maori, ho objected to the parts in which it was stated that be struck Mr Farrow more than once. He admitted that the statement of Mr-iFarrow-was true in every particular except that, out said Mr Allen’s statement abounded in falsehoods. He also enquired whet her a paddle was a knife that, it should always cut in the same place P The case was then adjourned till next day. WEDNESDAY, 6th DECEMBER. DEBT. Holder ». Campbell.— Claim of £2 17s 6d for goods delivered. Judgment for amount and. costs, 7s. DKUXKEEEESS. Epw. Biech was fiiied 5s for this offence ; alsa 5s expenses incurred bv police iu conveying Unix to the luck up.

ASSAULT. Waata KomsiOHl made his defence; but the evidence being taken in Maori, and not having jet been translated, we are unable to give it. We may state, however, that he was committed for trial at the next Criminal Session of the Supreme Court, on the charge only of assaulting Mr Farrow.