ALLEGED IMPERSONATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 490, 10 August 1912, Page 5

ALLEGED IMPERSONATION.

TO DEFRAUD NATIVE LAND BOARD. [BY TKLKORAI'H.—I'RKSS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, Friday. An endeavour on Hie part of two natives to defraud the Wnikaio-Mani-apoto District Native Land Board by impersonation formed tho subject of a prosecution in the Police Court this afternoon, when Noka Hukanui, a Maori 58 years of ape, was charged that he counselled and procured his son Moumou to inipersunate Paopao Patena, with intent to .lefraud the Land Board of ,C 9ls 7d. Moumou was charged with fraudulently obtaining the sum named. The circumstances arose out of tho sale of the Whakatakataka block of land, and tho distribution by tho Land Board of the money among the beneficiaries. The elder Muori took his son along to the clerk and accountant of tho baaid and introduced him as Paopao Patens, one of the beneficiaries of th-3 estate. The clerk was not satisfied, and they went away and returned with a man named Frederick Apppleyard, who corroborated tho identification of Moumou at Fatcna. Still further satisfaction was required, and the trio went away, but came back some dnvs later with a birth certificate. The cheque of £'.) Is 7d was thereupon handed over, and Moumou signed tho name of Patena to the voucher, and also endorsed it un the cheque. Tho cheque was cashed, but later, when inquiries were set on foot, Noka refunded the mon<\y.

Mr Selwyn Mays, who prosecuted, stated that it was the intention of the accused Noka and Moumou lo plead guilty, and that the man Appleyard would bo proceeded against separately.