TWO MAORIS IN TROUBLE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5182, 23 September 1927, Page 2

TWO MAORIS IN TROUBLE

FRACAS IN MAIN STREET.

NUMBER OF CHARGES PREFERRED

At the Paeroa Police Court yesterday morning, before Messrs H. J. Hare and B. Gwilliam, J’s.P., a young half-caste, named Robert Richards, alias Rangi, aged 27, was. charged with drunkenness in Normanby Road on Wednesday evening. He was also charged with throwing a bottle of beer in Normanby Road, and a third charge of resisting Constable; McClinchy while in the execution of his duty was laid. Supplying three bottles of beer to a Native for consumption off licensed premises was a fourth charge, while the theft of an aluminium salt shaker, valued at Is 6d, the property of a local restaurant, was the subject of a fifth charge. Accused pleaded guilty to all the charges with the exception of the one of resisting the police. Constable- McClinchy stated that in company with Constable Dawson he was proceeding up the main street when accused and another were observed staggering about in the vicin-’ ity of the post office-. When they were approached they objected to being .arrested for drunkenness, and a struggle ensued. Richards gave considerable trouble- and resisted strenuously, and had to be thrown to be handcuffed. In the struggle; the bottles of beer were broken and the glass was, scattered in all directions. To the Bench Richards said that he did not recognise the constables as policemen, and had the impression that an attempt was being made to rob him of his money and beer.

Constable McClinchy s-aid that he and Constable Dawson were in uniform, and there was sufficient light to show clearly who they were. The police were entitled to protection, /nd should not be expected to tolerate such behaviour, especially from drunken Maoris.

Corroborative evidence was given by Constable- Dawspn. With reference to the theft of the salt-shaker, Constable McClinchy said the; article was found on Richards when he was arrested and had since been identified by the owner. Charles Ranga, alias Ngaruhu, a full-blooded Maori, aged 22 years, Richards’ mate, was then charged with drunkenness in Normanby Road on Wednesday evening, and with resisting Constable Dawson while in the execution of his duty. Charges of supplying liquor and of throwing glass in the form of beer bottles were also preferred. Accused pleaded guilty to all the charges.

In addressing the; accused the Bench pointed out that the charge of resisting the police was a serious one, and they were liable to a fine of £2O or three; months’ imprisonment. So far as the charges of throwing broken bottles about were concerned, thfe Bench was prepared to t,ake into consideration that they might h,ave been broken during the course-of the struggle. The theft had, no doubt, been committed while in a state of intoxication and was a foolish act. Apparently the whole; trouble had arisen out of a drunken escapade, and such conduct would not be tolerated.

On the charge of drunkenness each accused was convicted and fined 5 s > for resisting the police; they were convicted and fined £2, for distributing broken glass were convicted and fined 10s, and on the, charge of theft Richards was convicted and fined ss. Costs amounting to £2 5s were ordered to be paid.

The charges of supplying liquor were, on the application of the police, remanded until October 3. bail being allowed in themselves of £5, and one surety of £5 each 1 . Prohibition orders were issued at thejr own request.