THE PROPHET "RUA"

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 March 1916, Page 2

THE PROPHET "RUA"

Vi ILY HE LS "WANTED." ft is staled that the "prophet" Rua •'«> ci 1 inp.a ined that justice was not done _lo luin mat he had no chance to ueieiid i'iiii.sefli; a.i.o that he had Already .suffered imprisonment lor *he ; h«i»en on wiiieli lie was sentenced. ! iie i;| c;s of tiie eaise (.-.ays the -'Ro'-o-' ■ua Times";, ;.s la.r as the public ieeoiils oi the police ]iroeee<liings show, are tlu-.-e : "On .May 211 th last year, liiia W'.is sentenced to three lnontius' .iiipri.soiiiiK'iit in Auckland Gaol on tho charge ol sly-grog selling, and on 'ive ether charges was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. After his reJeas ho started on die ssame career, and the poiice complained that he hart become a pubt.e menace, consorting with drunken and di>selii.:e peisons and being the medium through which liquor hail been supplied to ihe .Natives. The matter being lvpoL K-d to the magistrate, Rua was .su unpolled to show cause why lie .-lieuld not lie sentenced upon the live charges oil which he was convicted, and orden d, to come tip for sentence when called .upon. The summons was duly served and he was ordered to attend the Magistrate's Court sitting at \\ hakniane on January 22nd, He did :;ot attend, but sent, a letter saying that he was too busv gathering grass seed. In ]ii< absence, the magistrate heiird, evidence which bore out Ihe previous complaints that Rua was again dealing in sly grog and trafficking in liquor, and also was proacliing a . pro-German propaganda- among the X'.iiivei-;, saying that the Kaiser would w oeii be rnliiv.i over New Zealand, iio was sentenced as follows:—On two charges oi' supplying liquor into a .Maori pa, one month's imprisonment; for aiding and abetting others to sell Vquor to others, one month's imprisonment : and for permitting the sale oi l:qiior in his own house, one month's iiiiei ■imminent : the sentences to be cumulative,, making nine months in all."