MAORIS CUT TELEPHONES.

Shannon News, 10 November 1925, Page 2

MAORIS CUT TELEPHONES.

yUAIIIIEL, WITH SCHOOL TEACHER ’ An unusual case occupied the Wliangurei Magistrate a Court nearly all day. on Monday before Mr R. W. Tate, SaYl., it being an indictable case . biought by Hugh Goldsbury, native school teacher, of Tangowahine, against two Maoris, Ronga Tepene (a woman) and Paewhenua, who were charged with damaging a telephone transmission wire at Moengawahine, with intent to obstruct messages. ; Complainant stated several native settlements were connected by telephone joining to the Government line. * 'At first the trouble started over a case of infantile paralysis. Witness told the Health Inspector tq visit the settlement about a native woman dying , of consumption. She subsequently diecl and a tangi was held. A warning w:as given against school children attending, but in spite of this 19 attended. Then came a threat by Ronga to cut the telephone wires, and the school 'was disconnected. " This created bad feeling and affected the tone of the school and the dis- .: .trict. - For the defence it was claimed that ■- only a technical offence was cornmit- *-; ■ ted, that the telephone was originally installed and paid for by the natives J • for their sole use. It was stated that the rent of the school telephone had not been met at the time. . In dismissing the information, which, he said, served as a warning A the magistrate severely admonished both defendants.