SUPREME COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4451, 9 August 1922, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

THEFT AT PAEROA. 12 MONTHS’ REFORMATIVE TREATMENT. At the criminal session of the Supreme Court at Auckland, before Mr Justice Stringer, the Maori, W. Pikari, who had pleaded guilty to breaking, entering, theft, and receiving at Paeroa, came up for sentence. Mr B. P. Cahill, for the accused, said the exact age of Pikari could not be ascertained, but he was not more than 19 years. He had no education, and could not even sign his name properly. It appeared that his only vice was a passion for billiards, and the offences appeared to have been committed to satisfy a craving in that direction. After arrest accused had made a spontaneous confession to the constable. He had been previously jn probation for unlawfully using a bicycle, but his behaviour then was exemplary. This showed he was amenable to discipline and capable of reformation, and coupsei asked for probation on stringent terms that would carry him past the “silly” age. His Honour said he had referred to the Probation Officer’s report, and said also that the police lepprt was unsatisfactory, and accused would be detained for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding twelve months.