A ROMANTIC MAORI.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 249, 9 February 1917, Page 3

A ROMANTIC MAORI.

Loves His Brother's Widow

Deserts His Wife.

The unusual circumstance of Maori martial disagreement being responsibla for efficial investigation claimed attention at the Mercer Magistrate's Court yesterday, when the story of a Maori's desertion of his wife, consequent on hi a affections being transterred to his brother's widow, was untolded to Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., a korero of native chiefs and of members ot the clunky "gallant's" tsmily having failed to make the erring husbaid recognise that he could not discard the lady who in his younger days he hod led to the altar or, more correctly speaking, had taken tor better or worse under pakeha laws in a registry office, without making provision for her support. The leading characters in the domestic tragedy were a wellgroomed and smart native, by name Motutara, apparently of about 45 years of age, who is now residing in Fukekohe, and his wife, Sarah, a robust matron, ot similar age, who was tashionably clad in a Tartan costume. Sarah's rival for her husband'B companionship was not present in Court, but she is said tu be a lady of mature and undoubted charms. All around the Court room Maoris of either sex, including the Princess who makes Mercer her home, were seated, many squatting in true native style on the floor, their frequent interjections demonstrating that their sympathies were with Sarah. The charge against Motutara whb that he bad failed to provide maintenance for Sarah and for one son, thirteen years of age, a main tenauca order being asked tor. It was mentioned that there were other, children born to the couple but they were of adult age. The evidence was interpreted by the Rev. J. T. McWilliam, ot Hamilton who happened to be on a visit to Mercer. Sarah, on entering the witnessoox, was aeke i by the Magistrate f>r evidence as to her marriage, vd she proudly produced from the folds of her bodice

A MaRKIAGE CERI'IFICATIE, which His Worship announced showed that the parties w*re united in th 3 Auckland Rigistry Office on April 3rd, 1888. The deserted lady then deposed that her hubby, without any cause nn her part, had gone off to Fukekobe where he was living with another womarl, and he bad given her no mosey towards her keep. She admitted that she owned a little land at Te Kniti, bat said it produced very little income. The defendant remarked that before leaving his wife he gave her tsn cows for her to sell, but Sarah exclaimed thai the present only consisted of two cows as the others were her own property.

The Rev. T. T. Poipipi, a native clergyman working among the local Maoris, who had married oce of Motutara's and Sarah's daughters, gave it as his opinion that his mother-in-law had no adequate means to support herself. He added that his tather-in-law waß, when he liked, a Rood bard-working man, a-d the only troubl? was his INFATUATION FOR THE LADY

with whom he was now cohabiting. Corroborative- evidence was given by a marmd daugher, named Taba.

Motulara, after being sworn, freely confessed that he left Sarah in order to live WITH ANOIEEK WAHINE.

Pressed by the Magistrate, he said such wahine was his brother's widow.

At this point His Worship asked the Rev. Poipipi whether there wai any suggestion that Maoris adopted THE OLD HEBREW CUSTOM

of taking as a wife a brother's widow, but the rev. gintleman replied in the negative. Motutara's further evidence, as interpreted, wa*i "1 asked Sarah if I could go and live with the other woman and she agreed. I went because I wished to and because I LOVE THE OTHER WOMAN.'' The Magistrate: I can't stop you living with the other woman, but you must provide for your wife, and a present of two or tbreu cows will not keep her for ever. Motutara: 1 want a divorce. His WorshiD: It is for Sarah to ask for a divoice not far you, as you are the one at fault. In reply to the Magistrate, Motutara distinctly refused to go back and liv.3 with his lawful ipouse.

Questioned as to his means, Motutara said he owned seven acres of land, but be only cot 15s a year from it. He admitted that he was engaged in potato digging at Pukekohe, but maintained that be only earned 5s a day. He confesaed ignorance as to whether or not the new lady of Ins choice had means. The Rev. Poipipi informed the Magistrate that whilst living with Sarah Motutara earned aa much as £1 per day iu catching shrimps for despatch to the Government trout hatcheries at Rotorua, in addition to getting a munthly cheque ot about £7 tor usilk supply.

In reply to the Magistrate, Sarah said she thought she and the boy could live on 30s a week, Finally His Worship made an order for Motutara to pay 25s a week, the amount to be paid every Thursday at the Pukekohe police station. He advised Motutara to set to work and informed him that it he tailed to comply with the order he would be sent to "Whare Herehere" fprison).