Kawhia S.M. Court.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 257, 4 May 1906, Page 2

Kawhia S.M. Court.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, [Before Mr H. W. Northcroft, S.M] A MISSING MIRE. Robert Glentworth was charged with stealing a greenstone mere, from a Maori, tbe property cf Accused did not appear. w->o appeared for ac that Glentworth cnsulted KfBB, iSt-uting that the police were not offer any evidence. He adthat under those circumstances he need not appear. Accused evidently had misled him. The S.M. remarked that Glentworth did not attend last eou.t, and had told him at Te Rin a moa thU the reason he did not attend wa* because it would mean stopping the factory, of which be was manager. Accused also informed him then that tho mere would be nut back on the grave. At a later stage the case was proceeded with Constable McCarthy pro secuting, Mr E- C. Falwasser acting as interpreter. Hpupokio, res'ding at Kinohaku, remembered l»««t May placing a greenstone mere on a chief’s grave near bis whare. There was a track leading past the grave, but those walking on that track could neither see the grave nor the mere. Tbe greenstone disap peared and he asked Accused if be had seen it. Glentworth replied he had not got it, but somaoie elie had. He saw tbe greenstone again on January 26th, it having been returned to tbe grave. He knew who brought tbe mere back but did not see them, as it was 10 o’clock at night. To Mr Gillies: The mere dated back four generations, and it w s known (hat it would be placed on the grave. Maoris would be afraid to take it. The tangi was luld in 1865. Daniel Coe, j 1 *~ Kiwhia, said that be was out abo jtiog with accused when they saw the more, but it was not touched. When asked he told Haupokia he did not taka ibe greenstone and never denied seeing it.

In reply to a -severe cross examination witness denied that be had sent • letter to Glentworth or that h? had returned the mere to the grave. John Gage gave evidence as to having a conversation with accused about the mere.

Constable M'CaHby deposed as tc accused denying at first that he ever saw the mere, though he admitted this fact at a aubsequr-nt interview. Witness told accused that if the mere was put back that the matter w uld bo ended. Accused stated that be would have to see someone at Kinohaku first. When accused returned to Kawhia he said to witness, “ It is all bluff what you say about tbe greenstone. You can’t touch me. There is a reward of £lO9 offered.”

Notwithstanding an aW* on be£.»’ A’accustd by Mr Gillies, the c mvicted, issued a warrant for arrest, the prisoner to come up for sentence at Hamilton on the 16th of this month. MAOBIS •’ lint KACH OTHER AWAY.”

Hurunui was charged with sly-greg selling to four different (natives. He pleaded guilty to two charges. Mr Gillies appeared for defendant.

Mr Gillies add res-el the S.M. stating that on this particular occasion his client returned from Pirongia with a bottle of whisky, which he a dd, no doubt thinking that he deserved something for hia trouble. It was not such a serious matter.

The S.M. : There ara four charges. Mr Gillies : But the bottle of whisky is tt e same.

The S.M.: Thvt does not matter. Mr Gillies ! That is bringing the law down to an absurdity. The S-M.: Yoo can go farther. It grog was sold by tbe teaspoonfiil a case could be made of every one, and if by the drop a charge could be laid for every drop. A* there was another case arising out of the above charge it was decided to bear it then, consequently Tupu was charged with stealing one botch* of whisky the property of Hurunui, to which he pleaded not guilty. Hurunui deposed that ho b night tw battles of whisky at Finch’s Pirongia Hotel. Between Pirongia and Te Rau a moa he and others drank some whisky, for which Tupu was paid. They all went it to Ormsby’s and when he returned here was one of the bottles missin ;. He saw Tupu at John Ormsby’i; afterwards, but Tupu was not drinking whisky there. Tom Murray sold him the whisky, but did not know where it was being taken to. Witness did not tell Murray that bo belonged to the King Country. He brought five betths of whisky from Pirongia on January 14th. The bottle he accused Tupu of stealing he brought over on Fobruary 26th. Accused denied either selling whisky to Hurunui or stealing a bottle from him.

Mitu deposed that he knew defendant and remembered coming from Pirongia with him and Hurunui 'in February last when they had whisky with them. They drank some between Pirongia and Ta Bau-a-moa, which belonged to Tupu, but he did not see it sold and thought lit was given to them free. They went into Wao Ormsby’s at To Rau-a-moa. and all left there together. Huru iui’s horse Was outside Orm.-by’s, an 1 witness knew tint there wi re tw > bitties of whisky on the saddle. Witness took one of the l ot les. Hurunui aid not know that he did so, but the others agreed to take it to replace the one rhey drank au the road. They drank the whisky: they were drunk before they took it. Reir.embored going to interview the p lic-j and stating that he saw Tupu steal tho whisky, but that statement wns made up by Hurunui. Tais statement altered the state of decase, and the P.M. imnwliately at journod it till next court (August 2i;cd) to allow of fuslher enquiries

being made. ’ Addressing Hurunui, Mr Northcrofe said that be was not tbe good yoaug man that he would haye the court believe be was, as he swore that on January 14th be bad brought over five b >ttlos of whisky on February 26 b another consignment. On the first charge he would be convicted and fined £25 and £8 2s 6d costs. The Act did not permit of a fine for the second charge. He would order tbe accused io come up for sentence when called upon. If he was caught having anything to do with liquor he would bs called up and sentenced to these months' imprisonment. CIVIL CASKS. E. G. Falwasser v. J. Banfield.— Struck ont. G. G. Jonathan v. Hua Matin.Struck out.

G. G. Jonathan v. A. Fairfax, £34 1 *s, goxls sob! and delivered.—Order for amount end £1 6? costs.

Hinton and Has'ler ▼. A. Fairfax, £3 191 81, goods sold and delivered— Order fir a:/.junt with Ils costs. A cjupie of j idgment summoM were also dealt with THE KING COUNTRY AGUX. L. Walt ace was charge.] nn the fonuition < f Constable M‘C*r-oy w b -ending a keg of ale into tn \ g vo ur.ry not br.*nd--»--f wi h t?n wo d “ liquo-.” Mr Gillies appeared tor d<» tendent, who pleaded guilty. After 0 notable M'Cartby had ri-fly sia'ed-tbe fac s ol tbe case, Mr Gul es said thaie <os do endeavour to »-vid- he Ac o-s .-.d be liquor in sKtretly. The d <fen lank C-ivcd rba ord r ■ I »rcii 8 t>, »= t

6 '*" h v b.i K • whit .va i until Q t • e i Tse cart** wav qi ly r . i. f hat fact. The ’fiance as c a n -d purely ax;dentally. The S.M. wa -a f i»fied that it waa qmte in err «r, u■ q sandy ha would eim)lyc- - ic\ -»i.b 8 C’«te.