SUPREME COURT.—CIVIL SITTINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5130, 1 September 1877, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.—CIVIL SITTINGS.

Fbiday, August 31. (Before his Honor the Chief Justice.) THE WAKA MAORI LIBEL CASE.

The Court resuming at the usual hour, Mr. Locke was recalled to give further evidence respecting his connection with the transactions in which the Hon. .Mr. Russell and certain natives frequently mentioned during the trial were concerned, and he was examined at great length by Mr. Macassy in reference to a letter supposed to have been addressed by him to Mr. Russell in acknowledgement of the receipt of money due on account of services rendered to that gentleman. Mr. J. N. Wilson was next called. He deposed that he was a solicitor residing in Napier, and then gave a considerable amount of evidence in relation to the trusteeship of the Heretunga Block, in which Arihi TeiNatu was the chief person interested. He and Mr. P. Russell were the trustees, and no one else had been permitted to enter jnto the trust or interfere in any way with it. This was elicited in answer to questions by Mr. Macassy, whose examination was directed to i show that Ml-. Russell had not exercised . any influence over the witness and his cotrustee. The Heretunga Block was purchased originally by Mr. Watt, a storekeeper, for £2500, but was repurchased at an advance of £IOOO, of which Mr. Russell paid £SOO, the conveyance being made out to Mr. Tanner and others. The witness also stated that a portion of the money received for the block was divided among other natives interested in the block, and that at the present time the trust fund in favor of Alice amounted to ■ about £2500.. The witness was cross-examined at considerable length by Mr. Conolly, and reexamined by Mr. Macassy. Mr. White, Native Interpreter at Hawke's Bay, was then called. His evidence went to show that Mr. Russell had never coerced the natives by means of threats, or induced them with bribes to dispose of their lands to him ;, and the witness further stated that Mr. Russell had paid a fair price for the land, judging by the price for which land was obtained from the natives in Hawker's Bay by other persons. The examinatioriiof this witness having terminated, further evidence taken before the commission, in favor of the plaintiff, was read. The Court' adjourned at twenty minutes past 5 o'clock till 10 o'clock next morning.