Marriage Without Certificates

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 August 1915, Page 3

Marriage Without Certificates

NATIVE MINISTER Blil'OllE THE

UOUJXT,

Au important point- affecting the marriage laws was ventilated at the S..YL. Court, Otaki, ion I'riday last before Mr J. \Y. i'oyntou, ti. M., when the Kev. Temuera 'iokoaitua was charged, on the information of Detective A .E. Andrews, with solemnising two marriages—between Henry i'hillips (a European; and Mata Holiipuha, in one case, and William Gibson (ix European) and Lena Holiipuha in the other—without a certilicate from the .Registrar.

Martha Holiipuha and Lena Hohi puha gave evidence tliat they went through the form ot marriage with Phillips and Gibson respectively, on the same day—March 31st last—at their lather's dwelling, Otaki, the ceremony being performed by the Kev. Teuiuera Tokoaitua. iNo certificate had been received from the registrar for the marriages. Tliey were married according to Maori custom.

Henry Phillips, a cook, residing at Palnierston X., said he was a Aoiv Zealander, born of Jiuropeau parents. He was married on March 31st last, and Gibson was married on the same day. He asked defendant to peiform tho ceremony, i>ut did not obtain a marriage cor tinea to from the registrar. There was no secrecy α-bout the marriage, which was witnessed by a number of people. no had afterwards been married at the post offica, iu proper fashion.

James G. Ifyyuter, .postmaster at l'aoroa, stated that in .March last lie was postmaster at Otaki, and registrar of births, deaths and marriages for tlw Omki llegistration District. He had not issued a certificate lor either <>t the marriages. A, certificate should have been issued, as a JMiropeau could not be married without one.

Arthur Jidwin Andrews, deteotive, oi Wellington, disposed that he had interviewed defendant at Ins home iu Otaki, when he admitted that he had married Gibson and Phillips, "two Europeans. Gibson gave nim £2, and Phillips £1 lUs to perform the ceremony. Defendant had told him that he had previously married Europeans to Natives, but' that they had hail certificates. Defendant produced the Maori register.

Cross-examined by defendant, witness admitted defendant had told him that defendant had told Phdlips and his mate to go and get certihcates from Ul3 post office. He did not understand the money given was a, gilt, but thought it was for performing the service. Witness had made no threatening statement to defendant, and natl not said that defendant was a good man lor work, meaning for labour in gaol.

Accused pleaded guilty, but stated that he had committed the offence in- ( nocently, and according to Native custom, not knowing that a certificate was" required.

Accused was ordered to come up at the Wellington Supreme iOourt, ou Wednesday next tor sentence. Jiail was allowed—one surety of £100 (Air Harper), and accused himself tor £100.

(The S.M. addressed the Natives who were in the courthouse. .tie said he was

very sorry to see the mistake made Dy the Rev, Temuera. who evidently had no wish to break the law. In English law, marriage was an important matter because children through mistakes were made illegitimate-, and a husband hatt to support a wife. If not married , he was not compelled to do so.- Severe penalties were imposed in law to mak» th • requirements of the lavs carried out. In Temuera's case no was satisfied the mistake was done innocently, and if he had power ne would deal lightly with him. He did not want the Maori people to think Temeura had done wrong, and he felt the judge would take a lenient view of the case.—Otaki Mail. .