RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT .—GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1241, 6 January 1883, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT .—GISBORNE.

This Day, [Before M". Price, Esq., R.M.j POLICE V. F. MCDONALD, F. McDonald was charged with assaulting a Maori woman, Hahera WhaJtatane, at Opotiki, with intent. He was remanded till Friday next, the inst, on the Sqrgeanta application, META IitAStGA V. J. f.AINIL J. Laing was charged, on remand, of assault, by throwing boiling water over Mitihianga, causing him great bodily harm. Mitaiha-’aga, deposed ■■ I belong to Waiapu-, now living at Matatvhero. I remt’W.ber being at Wierenga-a-hika on the 26th to see the races. I know tli'j accused. I saw him in the public house that day. I went into Cooper’s house with two others, and while in the room, the accused came in, and another native came in. named Renata, and said to the accused give us a tune on the fiddle, which he had with him. The accused replied in bad language to him. Renata asked him again to give them a tune, and he raised the fiddle to him, and Renata pushed hila aside to prevent him hitting him, Renata and I got frightened and went outside 1 was stand ing just off the veranhah. While here t he accused came through the passage of the ho tse with a can in his hand. He came close to where we were, and

asked “ where’s the b—— Maori. We said nothing in reply to this. He wenf towards another group of Maoris and repeated the question. He turned round then and faced me, and without further ado, threw the hot water which he hail in t'ne can, over my face and neck. Th-e, can will hold about a gallon. My face, neck and chest were «ry much scalded, and my eyes were closed. I had to seek medical M|ice, and had to be taken in to the I have been in very great I was in the Hospital 5 days, Dr. Pollen’s care. I have not Igßo work, nor shall I be able to some time. Court; The accused was w hen he threw the water. say whether the man was Previous to this I had to the accused. I catidid it. We were perfect deposed : I know the Mitahianga. I saw him I examined him, on the left side of the chin, and partly d’° lc ft side of liis Pper part of his chest, and across the left were partly closed ’d- burns were 1,1 diir l di grec, the Hospital a- lie The first three suffered intense pain, be a burn caused by posed : I remember the at Waerenga a-hika he plaintiff, Mifuhianga. Cooper’s house that towards evening. Ro--5 nnd Mita, went into a tllowed. The room was Vf hen I got in prisoner He had a fiddle 'in I' l uatasaid give us a tune. replied in English, not understand. He ■■■.’ lie as if to hit Renata. HRuced him, and had a short whip cord in his hand. lat once said to Mita “Come outside, there will be a row.” We went outside, leaving Ropata, Renata, and the accused in the room. I was standing alongside the verandah post, and Mita was by my side. Renata came out, and went into the road. Accused followed him out of the house with a can in his hand. He went to the end of the house, and turned round again. I was talking to Mita. He passed behind me, and when he got close to Mita he threw the contents of the can into his face The can held hot water. When prisoner asked, where’s the b Maori Mita did not answer him. He did not speak to him at all. By the Court: It was not long after we left the room that the accused came out and threw the water over Mita Mary Cooper deposed : lam Mr AV. Cooper’s sister, proprietor of the Waerenga-a-hika Hotel, and reside there. On the 26th of last month I was serving in the bar of the said hotel. I recognise Mita as the man there on that day. I saw him with the accused in the parlor. There were more Maoris in the room. I did not hear a disturbance in the parlor afterwards. I saw accused come out on the verandah, and commence to play the fiddle. A Maori came out and commenced to beat the accused. The accused’s eyes were blackened. They were not blackened previous to this. I saw accused go out round the house with a dipper in his hand. He said nothing. I next saw him with a half-gallon dipper on the verandah. I saw him throw something in Mita’s face. Accused was standing in the bar which opens on the verandah, and complainant was standing on the verandah about four feet from me. The. water was thrown in Mita’s face, and after accused did it he jumped over the counter and ran out at the back. I did not hear accused say anything to Mita before he threw the water over him.

Frederick Cooper called.- I am a waiter, and reside at"Waerenga-a-hika with my brother. I remember 26th December last. I was at the hotel

that day. The races were held that ttay. Accused and Mita were there. About three o’clock I was at the back of the hotel and saw accused there, He came out of the kitchen with a dipper, holding about two quarts, in his hand, I did not see what was in it. He went round towards the front of the house. I next saw him on the verandah in front of the house. The Natives had him down kicking him This Was after accused went round with the dipper. I went round to see What the row was about, and I was struck by a Native. Accused then got over the counter, and went away. 1 saw that the complainant was scalded. From the back to the front the way the accused went with the dipper would be about 100 yards. John Walsh, called: I am a constable of police in Gisborne. I was at Waerenga-a-hika on 26th December last. 1 know Mita and the accused. Mita was at Waerenga-a-hika about 6 p.m. He was all blistered on the face and chest as if scalded. I arrested accused on a warrant next day, on the charge now before the Court. I told accused the charge, and he said it was true he had thrown a dipper of hot water over Mita, but that it was not the man he intended it for. He intended to throw it on a young Maori who had hammered him some time previous to this. This was the case for the prosecution. Accused having been duly cautioned in the manner provided by the Act, said “ I have nothing to say.” Accused was then committed for trial at the next sitting of the District Court to be holden at Gisborne on the Isth inst. His Worship said he would take bail—prisoner in £5O; and two sureties in £25 each. The Court then adjourned.