TRIAL OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2347, 24 September 1880, Page 2

TRIAL OF THE MAORI PRISONERS.

SECOND EDITION

[Bv Tioi.KGKAnr.]

Nuw Plymouth, Sept. 20, Sixty-live native prisoners were arraigned this morning at the DistrictCoiut on the charge of wilfully obstructing the free passage of a thorough fair, at Pungarehu, on September 4. Mr Standisb, Crown Prosecutor, with Mr Samuels, appeared for the Crown, and Messrs liaise and Roy for the prisoners. As the interpreter was about to read over the indictment to the prisoners, the Court ordered the Natives to take off their hats. This the Natives at first declined to do and appeared sulky. After some persuasion one by one they obeyed the order until all were bareheaded ; hut one old man was obstinate, and made a harangue which was not interpreted to the Court. Mr liaise, counsel for the prisoners, took exception to the indictment. He said that it was bad on account of its unccitaiuty. It stated that the o(fences that the prisoners were charged with were committed within the boundaries of the confiscated lands defined by the. schedule of the Act, and only a portions of the boundaries was described. Considerable legal argument followed. Tiie objections were overruled auci evidence for the prosecution was given r lliis mercl} r proved that tho accused had persisted in erecting an old fenceafter being informed that Mr Bryce had given instructions they must not do so. The jury after retiring for three-

quarters of au hour, returned inlo court with a verdict of guilty. His Honor sentenced the prisoners to 2 year’s imprisonment in the Lyttelton gaol, and to find a security in the amount of £SO each to keep the. peace for 6 months after the expiration of the sentence. He also told the interpreter to tell the prisoners that the length of their sentence depended upon how the Natives they left behind behaved themselves.