HAWERA.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 307, 27 March 1878, Page 2

HAWERA.

(from our own correspondent.)

E.M. COURT.— Monday, March 25. (Before C. A. Wray, Esq., E.M.)

Sergeant- Cahill v Awi, for being drunk in the public streets on the 21st February-. Fined 5s and costs, or 48 hours.

. Charles Douglas Whitcombe v John Winks, for depasturing without authority, on the 12th of February, 100 head of cattle, and again on the 18th of March 175 head, on certain Crown Lands, commonly known as the Wnimate Plains. , Mr Fitzherbert appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Roy for defendant. Charles D. Whitcombe deposed,—l am Commissioner of Grown Lands, Taranaki ; and received authority from .the Waste Lands Board to prosecute'all trespassers. I duly instructed Captain Wilson .to impound all cattle found on the Waimate Plains. Mr Winks ciirae to ine, after 175 of them had bceh impounded, and told me they belonged to a Maori, Patu Kopa-. I then told him that the Maoris hud stated that the cattle belonged, to him. I then put special damages on the cattle, in order to find Out the right owner, and gave instructions to the pomidkeeper, on no account to deliver them up, without the person shewing proper authority; Mr , Winks also told me that he sold the cattle to the Maoris, and held a premiasary note for payment in December iiext; He came again to me the next day, and told me the note had been cancelled, and that he had resumed ownership. He paid' the charges, and took the cattle away. I left the claim for special damages to the decision of the court.

Cross-examined by Mr Roy,—l did not know the number of the cattle until they were in the pound. Mr Winks told me he had sold 300 head of cattle to Patu Kopa, and had received his pvomissary note for £2,100. I told him if they were owned by natives, it did not matter to him if they were impounded or not. I saw the cattle in the pound paddock, but did not notice the brands. Mr Winks did not state that the 175 head of cattle impounded were part of the 300 sold by him. By Mr Fitzherbert. —Patu had told him that 10 only of the Cattle belonged to him, and that the rest wore Mr Winks’.

Captain Wilson deposed*—l tfas coming from Opmiaki, on the 12th of February last, in company with Major Biown, tliHon. Mr Sheehan, and Mr George, when we mot a drove of cattle being driven into an enclosure on the Waimato Plains, by two men named John Jury and Richard King, in the employ of Mr Winks. A native chief, on being questioned, stated that they belonged to Mr Winks, of Hawera, I received instructions from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and on the 18th of March. I took a party and drove the cattle off the Plains, and impounded them at Hawera. No one claimed the cattle until they were impounded, when Patu Kopa came and said they were his. I told him he would have to prove ownership. I was present when the cattle were liberated, and saw Mr Winks take charge.

By Mr Roy—The cattle were coming from the direction of Hawera. When Patu Kopa came to Hawera and wished to release them he did not make any mention of Mr Winks, and spoke as if he was the sole owner, and asked it I would go with him to the pound keeper, as he had refused to give him up the cattle. He shewed me a receipt on the 19th, and made a statement that there was a bill to Mr Winks for £2OOO payable in December, 1878.

Major Brown gave corroborative evidence.

Frederick Long stated—Mr Winks came to me last winter and asked me if I would do some fencing for Patu on the Waimate Plains. I considered myself employed by Patu and that the defendant only acted as agent. I saw cattle driven on the land by Mr Winks whilst I was fencing. By Mr Roy—l looked upon the land a,s native property. I saw no cattle driven off. I asked Patu to pay me and he told me to go to Mr Winks. Stephen Adamson stated—l am in the employ of Mr William Bayly. I helped to deliver about 96 head to Mr Winks 6 weeks ago. The delivery took place on our run. 1 recognised several of them in the mob impounded on the 18th of March.

By Mr Roy—l did not notice any new brands on the cattle since the' day when they were delivered. , _ Charles Wallace deposed tof haying assisted to drive the cattle off the Plains. Saw; Patu Kopa, who pointed out about 10 of the cattle and said that they were his, but that the rest were Mr Winks\ I told him that they were all going to the pound. John Jewry and Richard King owned to having assisted in driving the cattle from Mr Winks’ farm to the Waimate Plains, but did not know whose, cattle they were. Both Minia and Patti Kopa helped us to drive them into the enclosure. - Charles Tait, pound-keeper, deposed —On the 18th a mob of 174 cattle were impounded, most hayjng Mr Bayley s

and Mr Winks’ brands. Mr Winks came to me on behalf ct the' Maoris to release them,; but 1 told hini it was , my duty to find the right owner, subsequently Mr Whiles came ail'd paid the fees.

ByMrßoy—TheMnori crime to release them on the Monday, but said the. fees were too much and he would go to Court. I understood that he was the owner. On Tuesday Mr Winks came arid said that he had made arrangements with the Maoris to take over a promissory note, and that the cattle now belonged to him. He paid the fees but not the special damages-. ■johli Black, Registrar of Brands, was called upon to prove the brandsPatu Kopa. said he feulembered cattle being taken to the pound-, saw Wallace but did Hot speak to him. By Mr Roy—l bought 300 from Mr. Winks and gave Mm £2OOO for them. I paid £IOO in cash and the rest I was to pay ill ten months-. I claim the land. Finding I could not release them I went and resold them to Mr Winks.

Mr Roy on behalf of defendant stated that the cattle had been sold to the Maoris for £2OOO, and that delivery took place on the day they met Mr Sheehan on the Plains, and that the Maoris finding a difficulty in releasing them, had resold them to Mr Winks.

John Winks deposed—l am the defendant; I know the cattle, I did not consider them niy property. I had sold them to Path and Miriia, aiid had given them delivery on their own land. Patu came and told me the cattle were impounded; I went with him to the pound and saw.him tender the money for the release of them, which was refused. He skid if any one would buy the cattle they might have them. I went to Minia and gave him back the promissory note, and he gave me a receipt; I told this to the pound-keeper. The cattle were the same as 1 sold to Minia and Paid;

Cross-examined—l delivered 80 head in December; The second delivery was 169 head; The promissory note was given after the delivery of the last lot, I did not take a receipt from Patu when I delivered to him the cuttle. When the Maoris fenced in the land, I agreed to sell them some cattle. I got the promissory note as soon as I asked for it.

This closed the case. The Court decided that the evidence given was sufficient to convict defendant, but as there had been no previous conviction, the lowest penalty of £5 would be inflicted; with £l9 Ils costs. John Flynn v Francis McCusker, claim £7 13s, for wages due for horse hire for 18 weeks, at 13s 4d per week. Judgment for plaintiff for amount and costs.

Sergeant Cahill v John Prosser, for knowingly permitting one Win. Hudson to be drimk on his premises. Dismissed with caution.

L. Milmoe v Ratoia, for stealing black mare, value £2O; Evidence went to prove that the native took tlie horse in mistake for another, and the case was dismissed, defendant paying costs; NATIVE MEETING. On Friday last, there was a strong muster of natives at Carlyle, representatives being present from Waitotara and Mokoia, and intervening settlements. Natives who lately took active part in obstructing the survey of the Mom ah aid Block, and others interested, had agreed to meet Major Brown (as representing the Government) to discuss their claims. The body of the Court House was well filled, and large numbers were content to remain outside. Consideringthe disposition lately shown to violence; it was pleasing to see the dignified and orderly manner in which leading natives took part in the discussion. At times there was a little excitement, but on the whole the meeting was of most orderly character. The whole day was occupied by the Natives in talking over the matter —men and women each having a say—a word occasionally being put in by Mr W. Williams (Native Interpreter) on behalf of the natives. Until the natives agreed amongst themselves there appeared to be very little foV Major Brown to do except listen. The day closed without any satisfactory settlement, and the meeting was resumed again on Saturday. The Civil Commissioner then informed the Waitotara natives—those who had obstructed the survey at Momabaki being present—that front the compensation of £3,000 which he had long ago promised them, he should deduct, as he had intimated at the time, £IOO per week for the time the survey bad been obstructed, and which would amount to £4OO. There was but one native who showed very strong disposition to dissent from the proposition, and even he subsided during the afternoon with the others, on the chief Honi Pihama reminding them that the Hon Mr Sheehan twice told them at Waitotara not to interfere with the stlrvey, as they would thereby be breaking the law and would have to abide by the consequences. It was too late in the day when' the natives finally agreed for the whole of the money to be paid over, but an instalment was paid for distribution and the remainder will follow.

In the interval,- Whilst the Waitotara natives were discussing amongst themselves what they should do,- al meeting was held of Mokoia and Manutahi natives; These natives have for a long time past refused to agree about the division of certain money which Government was willing to allow in respect of land which hey

formerly owned. They met Major Browii on Saturday, and the money was apportioned-, after which the natives took their departure evidently well pleased at the satisfactory sottlement of a long standing dispute.

The plain speaking of the Hori Mr Sheehan to the natives on this coast, who said they must look to Major Brown as representing the Government, appears not td have been without good effect. The success of Major Brown in satisfactorilly settling these two long standing disputes, cannot but prove beneficial to the district, and the deduction of £4OO for loss of time and damage by.destruction of bridge erected by the survey party, cannot fail to prove a wholesome lesson to the natives hot again td throw unnecessary obstacles in the way of Government. The Ibss all falls on themselves, and the (to them) substantial loss of £4OO will do more to opeii their eyes - to tile folly Of interfering with surveys than any amount of talking. It is to be hoped the lesson will not be lost bii natives now laying claim to the Wainlate Plains, and that professed friends-, wbd really only desire to obstruct, will not fail to explain to their clients, the madness of opposing Government in the survey and occupation of confiscated lands; GOVERNMENT LAND SALE. ; The following lots offered for sale by public auction at the Court House, Carlyle; on Saturday last; found purchasers. . The District Land Officer (C. A. Wray, Esq.); acted as auctioneer; About forty persons were present. TOWN SECTIONS; KAKARAMEA. Upset price, £7 10s.—Section 57, purchased by C. A. Wray, £8; section 314,W; Gowern, £1010s; section 315; 11. E; Mcßae; £8; sectidn 316; Charles Marshall, £8; section 371, A. Duncan; £7 10s ; section 374; Gilbert Pearce, £B. Upset price, £lo.—-Sectidn 322; A; Dhncrin, £l3; sections; 354, 355, 305, R. E; Mcßae; £lO 10s each; Upset price; £2o.—Section 324, F. O’S; McCarthy; £2O; section 332; A. Duncan; £2O. OTGIA-OPAKU. Section 609, area; 242 acres, upset £llos. per acre, purchased by W. Dale; OtOIA-OPAKU ItARBOR RESERVES. Upset price £1 10s per acre.—Sectioii 608, comprising 230 acres; purchased by A., Duncan at upset pride; sectidn 610, comprising 261 acres, Evail Williams; £2 per acre; ...... „ PATE A EDUCATION BOARD. A meeting of the above Board was held at the Secretary’s Office, Carlyle, on Monday last. Present : Messrs Middiemas (in the chair); Coutts, Dale, arid Mcßae. Minutes of previous uleotihg read arid confirmed. Application from J. G. Beamish id transfer lease Mokoia, to Hearn and Kennedy; agreed to, .... In reply to letter from Tararialci Education Board, stating- that £lO4 13s had beeii handed over to Board foi ; distributidri under tbo Public Libraries Act, the Secretary was instructed to fiirnish retUrris of subscribers to Carlyle and Hawera Institutes.

On tlie motion of Mr Dale; seconded by Mr McEae, the sum of £lO was voted td the Whenuakura, Kakaramea, Maimtaiii; and Norniauby school .committees, and ■ £ls each to Carlyle and Hawera school committees, for contingencies. It was resolved that the books, slates'; &c:, belonging to the Board should be distributed on the basis of the number of children on the books at tlie various schools. Desks were allotted 19 to Carlyle, 18 to ttawera, 10 to Normanby, 3 id Kakaramea, 3 to Whenuakura; and 3 td Manutahi, which includes 6 received from Wellington. The safe in use by the Board ordered to be sold by auction.The Secretary’s report was approved, arid ordered to be printed and forwarded to the Minister of Education as soon as return of receipts and expenditure could be prepared and audited. , It was resolved that the Board recoriimend the payment of £l each to the’ Chairman and Secretary of the Education Board, for expenses in the matter of awarding reserves under Section 8 of the Education Eeserves Act.

The Secretary was authorised to pay ariy accounts which might come in before the 31st instant, provided the same had beeri authorised by the Board. Being the last meeting, it was resolved that the Board, wishing to mark its appreciation of the Secretary in the performance of his duties, vote a bonus of £3O. Accounts as passed were ordered to he paid. , A deputation consisting of the Eev J. Tony and Mr J. S. Greig, members of the Hawera School Committee, waited on _ the Board iri reference to misunderstandings which had arisen between members of the committee and the Board. The cases were stated and explanations given, and the deputation retired. A cordial vote of thanks to the Chairman (Thomas Middl aruas, Esq.), for the efficient manner in which he had conducted the proceedings of the Board, concluded the business, and the meeting adjourned sine die.

Strangers and country settlers coming to Carlyle, are very often at a loss to know which is the bes® and cheapest General Drapery and Clothing Establishment in the district. R. A. Adams’ Cardigan! House, offers special advantages that cart be' met With nowhere else in the district. He keeps the largest and best assorted stock of every description of drapery goods,- imported direct—and from the best colonial houses ; Which, being bought on! the most advantageous terms,- and having thorough knowledge of the business# enables him to offer goods of, sterling quality at prices that cannot be improved on by any other house in New Zealand.Every article is marked in plain figures# from which there is no deviation ; so that inexperienced people are as well _ served as the best judges, the terms being net cash, Without rebate or abatement of any kind. Note the address—R. A. Adams \ Cardigan House, nearly opposite Town Hall, Carivlc. —adVt. .

'Holloway's'Pills —Worthy of especial 'note. —These purifying- Pills excel every other- medicine for Regulating the d igestion, ‘acting healthily on the liver arid' bowels, invigorating • the nervous system,- and strengthening the body. They ‘cause neither pain nor other inconvenience. -At all seasons the'system is liable to sudden checks. In such cases these Pills,restore the balance of the circulation, arid ward 'off dangerous attacks of diarrhoea, .dyseriteiy, or ‘cholera. They are the best correctives of the stomach, when dis- ' ordered by repletion' or by the presence of indigestible food. Tliey .’speedily rectify; the flatulent weight, and’ general uneasi- ; ness which-are experienced in ‘the ’bowels prior to the accession of more serious 'symptoms, which debilitate, if thdy'do not "endariger.