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Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 49, 9 December 1867, Page 303

Stbange Justice.—'Whenever a row in rhich both natives and Europeans are toncerned, becomes a subject of legal en[uiry, the native esoapes scot free while the Snropean.is smartly punished. Why this b the case we don’t in the least understand, inless there is some idea entertained by Resident Magistrate that the <( noble savage ” » above the. law. We quote the olio wing case,from the Wanganui ..Chroniile as a practical illustration of : our asserion :—“ A. case came before the Resident Magistrate’s . Court yesterday,, arising out >f a disturbance which, took place at Camp* jelltown on the second day : of the Wangami races (7th. November last.) Hori Hira, i native of Putiki, charged John .Condron vith assaulting him ; on that, evening at the Eted Lion Hotel with a bill hook, inflicting hereby , a dangerous yround on the ,hand. Pwo other natives, Rewi and Rahaua,-gave evidence in support of the;. charge, by swearing .that they were all the time and saw Hira attacked,.:bat saw no windows broken.-: The defendant in his evidence said he «aw-a . lot.of natives smashing the windows of the. Red Lien, among the number Hemp aijtd other distinguished . chiefs and; sub-chiefs. -Whatever may-have been the. discrepancy, on the ..subject of the win* dowsrrthere was no doubt they were bro* ken, and at the'time of the assault. - As excnilp&tory.evidence, three witnesses, two pf them, connected with: the hotel, deposed seekthedefendant paßed off hie horse-byhativesagainstwhomhedefended himself with , a 'riding .whip, but none ol themrsw ? ;abillhookin thefray,althougl] therewas . one in the thotel. The Benct fined Condron 40s and 21s 6d costs. Will the Bench inform ns why -a. man, sboulc be.fined 40s for thrashing ; natives with t riding whip who at the. time are,pulling seeka horsiagalloping at, great' speed, ant th'ei|'s^^^}^ight|and|wbuMhe^^heiy