WIRED OFF

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 386, 22 November 1932, Page 6

WIRED OFF

strange knockings HUSBAND ERECTS BARRIER TO PROTECT HIS WIFE MAORI COUPLE DIFFER Notwithstanding the fact that Albert Inia built a 9ft. high wirenetting fence around his home to keep out mysterious persons who indulged' in ominous rappings at night time which disturbed his wife's peace of mind, she was not satisfied. She made disquieting ges-t tures with a gun and Inia Ieft home. The sequel came yesterday in a court case in which the wife sued the husband for maintenanee and explained in a voluble flood of Maori rhetoric which left the interpreter, court and counsel gasping, that since her husband had left her he had only sent her 30s in money. She had received a certain amount of food, but not enough to live on. She admitted supplies included three 501b. bags of flour, 701b. of sugar, butter, candles and matches, but it was not enough. Her mother had used. her rent money at the store to get food. In reply to her counsel, Mr. J. D. Davys, she did not consider the husband a cunning man — no, he was just mad. In cross examination she admitted that she had complained of knockings around the house at night and her husband had erected a 9ft wire-netting fence about the house to keep these persons away. She was still convinced, however, that there were persons trying to do her an injury. She denied threatening to shoot her husband; in fact she did not lcnow how to handle the gun. Neither did she know that her husband rang up the police to come out and get the gun, but since the police took the weapon her husband had not lived with her. The garden at the home was made by herself — that was part of the trouble; her husband would not work at home. No food had been received during the last three weeks, but a lot of potatoes were stored at home. Did All He Could The husband managed to give his evidence without an interpi'eter. He declared that he had left home because his wife threatened to shoot him. He had always provided for the home and had sent meat and flour to the house since he left. His wife never slept at night, and kept him awake, but she slept in the day time-. Although she owned land she did not get much rent from it. He had grown carrots, turnips, cabbage and potatoes for the home. Pressed by Mr. Davys to make an offer of a money payment instead of sending food Inia said he was only getting 25s a week relief pay, but flnally he offered 5s a week. Mr. Paterson, however, declined to make any order. It appeared to him that the trouble arose- from the wife being a little mentally weak.